In-form Shaun Murphy on course for back-to-back titles after reaching Xi'an Grand Prix final

Murphy will face Mark Williams in Monday’s best of 19 frames title match at the Qujiang Athletic Centre where the winner will collect the £177,000 top prize.

Welshman Williams - who is aiming to become professional snooker’s oldest-ever ranking event champion - defeated fellow countryman Daniel Wells, 6-3, in the opening semi-final in Xi’an.

Murphy is red-hot on the green baize at present. Only a fortnight ago he ended a 26-month wait for a ranking event title at the British Open in Cheltenham, and now he is in back-to-back ranking finals and going for successive crowns.

The Magician is the first player this season to reach multiple finals, and overall it will be the 28th ranking final of The Magician’s long career.

If you include his International Championship qualifying win in between these two tournament runs, Murphy is currently on a 13-match winning streak on the World Snooker Tour.

Things appear rosy now for the 43-year-old Englishman, who after the Wuhan Open at the end of August temporarily slipped outside of the world’s top 16 for the first time in over 19 years. That particular ranking concern can now be shelved for at least a while.

Murphy got off to a fine start in the semi-final as he posted a run of 91 in frame one, but world number 17 Wilson - who eliminated Ronnie O'Sullivan the day before - levelled with the help of an 81 before a 139 put him 3-1 up at the mid-session interval. That latter effort was Wilson's 11th century break of the week in Xi'an.

However, Murphy went on a scoring spree when the tie resumed, leaving his opponent pointless for three consecutive frames as he fashioned efforts of 81, 131 and 140 to turn the tables at 4-3 up. The sequence was similar to what he produced against Kyren Wilson in the last 16 where the title holder didn't pot a single ball.

It would be four frames on-the-spin for Murphy, but Wilson - who was going for back-to-back finals in China after his runner-up finish in Wuhan - stopped his rot with a 74 in frame nine to reduce the gap to one.

In the next frame, though, Wilson was once again consigned to his seat as Murphy crafted a 141 to complete the job in style - his ninth break over 120 this week.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix final

In terms of their career head-to-head record, the numbers could scarcely be closer - if you include all events and formats, Murphy narrowly leads the score 16-15.

They have previously met in two ranking event finals, with Murphy coming out on top both times: 10-9 at the 2019 China Championship (Williams forced a decider from 9-5 down), and 3-1 at the 2023 Championship League.

Williams did win their most recent encounter, though, 6-1 in the last 16 of the Saudi Arabia Masters in August.

Without question, Murphy will start their latest final as a warm favourite considering the supreme form he is in.

In comparison, Williams has been downbeat about his game this week in the Far East, but there are different pressures for a final, and the three-time world champion can maybe draw on the extra experience he has over Murphy in such situations.

The 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix final will be held across two sessions: afternoon (07:00BST) and evening (12:30BST).

Visit our 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix tournament information centre here for details on the draw, results, prize money, schedule and how to watch.