Mark Williams v Xiao Guodong live stream | Wuhan Open Semi-Final preview
Williams faces reigning champion Xiao in the last four (PA Images)
Mark Williams locks horns with defending champion Xiao Guodong in the opening semi-final at the Wuhan Open on Friday.
The first of the last-four clashes at the Optics Valley Gymnasium pits the three-time World champion against the current holder of this title.
It is a fixture that has been dominated by Williams, who has prevailed in five of their six previous meetings, including a 10-6 victory in their most recent at last year’s Champion of Champions final.
The Welshman is gearing up for the 68th ranking semi-final of his wonderful career, following a pair of 5-3 victories over Liam Davies and four-time World champion Mark Selby, while he has also inflicted 5-1 defeats on Championship League finalist Joe O’Connor and Zhang Anda.
More importantly, he is now just two more wins away from becoming the oldest winner of a ranking event in snooker history, surpassing the late Ray Reardon’s 43-year record.
However, it will not be easy against an opponent currently riding the crest of a wave.
Not only did Xiao claim a Gold Medal at the World Games in Chengdu earlier this month, but he began his Wuhan Open title defence with a 147 during his 5-0 whitewash of Mink Nutcharut.
Victories over Ishpreet Singh Chadha, David Grace, Matthew Selt and Stan Moody have followed for the loss of just nine frames, stretching his winning streak in Wuhan to 12 matches.
The world number 14 will hope his quest for a 13th straight victory will not prove unlucky, and he can remain on course to complete a successful title defence by reaching his fifth career ranking final.
A showdown either Mark Allen or Gary Wilson in Saturday’s final is on offer to whoever prevails from this clash.
The match breaks off at 7am BST and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at the Optics Valley Gymnasium.
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