Mark Selby v Zhang Anda live stream | Players Championship Semi-Final preview
Selby is appearing in his first Players Championship semi-final (News Images LTD / Alamy Stock Photo)
Mark Selby and Zhang Anda do battle on Saturday for the right to face Mark Allen in this year’s Players Championship final.
It promises to be an intriguing Saturday night at the Telford International Centre between two players in unfamiliar territory.
Indeed, Selby had never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the elite 16-man event, while Zhang has hit the ground running on his maiden appearance.
Although, the head-to-head record is very much in favour of the Jester, who has won all five previous meetings.
And a good omen is that he has gone on to win the tournament following his two most recent victories at the 2016 UK Championship and 2023 WST Classic.
Despite a steady start to 2024, Selby has looked reinvigorated this week. Since falling 2-0 behind against Barry Hawkins in the opening round, he has gone on to win 12 of the next 13 frames played.
After running out a 6-3 winner over the Hawk, the four-time World champion then ruthlessly condemned Ronnie O’Sullivan to a comprehensive 6-0 whitewash – hitting breaks of 105, 91, 81, 65 and 59 along the way.
This season’s British Open runner-up is now gearing up for his fourth semi-final of the campaign, having also reached the last four at the European Masters and Shanghai Masters.
Like Selby, Zhang had endured a slow start to the calendar year – a run to the World Grand Prix quarter-finals being countered by early exits from the Masters, German Masters and Welsh Open.
Nevertheless, the reigning International Championship winner has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes this week.
After recovering from 5-4 down to edge out Noppon Saengkham in a deciding frame, he then hit breaks of 104, 102, 95, 84 and 79 on the way to an impressive 6-4 victory over John Higgins.
There is plenty on the line for the world number 13 this weekend as he prepares for his third semi-final of the campaign.
Indeed, should he go on to lift the trophy, he would snatch the final qualifying spot for the lucrative Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker at the start of next month.
Play gets under way at 7pm GMT on Saturday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at the Telford International Centre.
How to watch Mark Selby v Zhang Anda live stream
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