Mark Williams v Daniel Wells live stream | Xi’an Grand Prix 2025 Semi-Final preview
Williams is appearing in his 69th career ranking semi-final (Credit: Action Plus Sports Images)
Mark Williams does battle with compatriot Daniel Wells in an all-Welsh semi-final showdown at the Xi’an Grand Prix on Sunday.
The first finalist will be determined as two players on opposite ends of the experience scale collide at Qujiang Sports Complex.
While three-time World champion Williams is appearing in his 69th ranking semi-final, this is only the fourth such match of Wells’ professional career.
Williams has won both times – and 11 out of 12 frames – they have played in professional competitions, albeit the most recent was at the 2018 UK Championship – the same year he won the latest of his three Crucible crowns.
The 50-year-old is now just two more victories away from becoming the first player to win a tour event in his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
Williams opened his week with a pair of 5-2 wins over Zhou Jinhao and Zhou Yuelong, before he edged out Barry Hawkins and Lyu Haotian in deciding frames.
That made it back-to-back ranking semi-final appearances in China, having also reached this stage at the Wuhan Open in August.
Meanwhile, there is clearly something about Xi’an that agrees with Wells, who is appearing in the last four here for the second year running.
The 37-year-old from Neath has put in a lot of work behind the scenes in recent times, working with a personal trainer while abstaining from drink for a year.
World number 47 Wells appears to have reaped the rewards this week, beating David Gilbert, Si Jiahui, Robert Milkins and Liam Pullen to move within another victory of reaching his first ranking final.
A showdown with either reigning Masters and British Open champion Shaun Murphy or three-time ranking event winner Gary Wilson awaits whoever prevails from this clash in Monday’s showpiece.
The match breaks off at 7am BST on Sunday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at Qujiang Sports Complex.
WATCH THE XI’AN GRAND PRIX LIVE HERE
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