Zhao Xintong v John Higgins live stream | Tour Championship Semi-Final preview
Zhao (right) and Higgins renew their Players Series rivalry (Credit: PA Images)
Zhao Xintong and John Higgins do battle once more in the Players Series on Saturday, as they collide in the Tour Championship semi-finals.
The second semi-final at the Manchester Central provides another blockbuster battle between the defending champion and the reigning Crucible king, with Judd Trump awaiting the winner in Sunday’s final.
Zhao and Higgins have already met in both previous Players Series events this season. The Chinese was a 5-3 winner in the World Grand Prix first round on his way to winning the title, while he also prevailed 10-7 in the Players Championship final.
Although, the Scotsman did win their epic Masters quarter-final on the black at the start of 2026, while he recovered from 8-4 down for a 10-9 victory in their previous Tour Championship showdown four years ago.
Higgins also produced an inspired turnaround in the quarter-finals of this event’s event. Just like the 2025 final, he trailed 8-5 against Mark Selby, but reeled off the last five frames for a 10-8 victory.
The four-time World champion was also a 10-8 winner in his opening match against Mark Williams, withstanding his opponent’s spirited fightback from 7-2 down to level at 8-8.
Higgins has won both his previous Tour Championship semi-finals, and is just two wins away from becoming the second multiple champion of the event after Neil Robertson.
Zhao, meanwhile, is two victories away from becoming the first player to complete the Players Series sweep.
A good omen for the Cyclone is the fact he has gone on to win the respective tournament following each of his last three triumphs over Higgins.
Zhao, who also won the lucrative Riyadh Season Championship earlier this season, is appearing in his seventh semi-final of the campaign, having produced the most emphatic performance of the opening two rounds.
Indeed, the reigning World champion hit five centuries, including three in the last four frames, on the way to a commanding 10-4 win over debutant Chris Wakelin.
Zhao will look to continue in that vein when he locks horns with defending champion in another mouth-watering semi-final showdown on Saturday, for the right to face world number one Trump in the showpiece.
The match breaks off at 1pm BST on Saturday with the opening eight frames, before resuming at 7pm and playing to a conclusion at the Manchester Central.
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