Wilson seals Players Championship semi-final spot with Williams win

Jonathan Davies in Players Championship 20 March 2025

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Kyren Wilson v Mark Williams live stream | Players Championship 2025 Preview

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Wilson was a 6-3 winner over Williams on Wednesday

Kyren Wilson booked his place in the Players Championship semi-finals on Wednesday following a 6-3 victory over Mark Williams in Telford.

The reigning World champion is the first man to progress to the last four at the Telford International Centre, doing so in this event for a third time.

This was the third meeting between the players this season, with both recording a victory apiece and going on to win that respective tournament.

Wilson was a 5-1 winner in the Northern Ireland Open quarter-finals, though Williams exacted his revenge with a 6-5 victory at the same stage of the Champion of Champions.

The Warrior, who dethroned reigning champion Mark Allen in the opening round, made a strong start with breaks of 58 and 62 for a 2-0 lead. However, his opponent produced a 30 clearance to take the third frame on the pink, before a run of 68 drew him level at 2-2.

After the next two frames were shared, Wilson took control with contributions of 61, 79 and 71 getting him over the line.

“[Mark] is such an experienced match player that you need to try and craft chances and put him in trouble,” the World champion told WST. “I’m very proud I’ve managed to do that over the years.

“It has been a really tough draw. Mark Allen, then Mark Williams, and now Neil Robertson or Mark Selby [in the semi-finals]. They are two of the form players this season. It is going to be a tough game. Whoever I play, I am going to have to play well.”

Earlier in the day, John Higgins and Xiao Guodong came through deciding-frame finishes – against Chris Wakelin and Wu Yize respectively – and will meet in the quarter-finals.

Despite winning the opening frame, Higgins found himself 4-2 behind as Wakelin grew into the contest with breaks of 92 and 129 along the way.

The four-time World champion won the next three frames to regain the lead but, after he was taken to a decider, his opponent looked set for victory on a break of 51.

However, Wakelin missed a tricky final red, which remained over the pocket, and Higgins cleared to scrape through on the final pink – meaning the former will miss out on the Tour Championship and have to qualify for the World Championship.

Meanwhile, Xiao came through a seesaw battle with compatriot Wu in a battle of the Players Championship debutants.

After falling 3-1 behind, the Wuhan Open champion won the next three frames to lead 4-3, only to be taken the distance by this season’s English and Scottish Open finalist.

Nevertheless, Xiao held his nerve and a timely break of 73 booked a last-eight date with Higgins.

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