Mark Williams v Shaun Murphy live stream | Xi’an Grand Prix 2025 Final preview
Murphy and Williams contest a third ranking final (Photo credit: Imaginechina Limited)
Mark Williams goes head to head with Shaun Murphy on Sunday for the right to be crowned the 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix champion.
There is plenty at stake for both players at Qujiang Sports Complex, where the winner will land the top prize of £177,000.
More importantly, Williams is looking to surpass the late Ray Reardon and become the oldest ranking event winner in history. Meanwhile, British Open champion Murphy could clinch successive ranking titles for the first time in his career.
The Magician has prevailed in both previous finals the pair have contested, including a dramatic 10-9 victory in the 2019 China Championship showpiece.
Having recently dropped out of the world’s top 16, Murphy has wasted little time in restoring his place among snooker’s elite.
The Magician ended his two-year wait for ranking silverware at the British Open a fortnight ago, and has built on that momentum this week with nine centuries along the way.
After beating the Chinese duo of Long Zehuang and Wu Yize, Murphy whitewashed reigning champion Kyren Wilson 5-0 for the loss of just six points.
He then beat another home favourite in Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals, before breaks of 141, 140, 131, 91 and 81 helped him overturn a 3-1 deficit to beat Gary Wilson 6-4 in the semis.
The 2005 World champion now looks to land his 14th ranking title in what will be his 28th final appearance.
It will not be easy, though, against the evergreen Williams, who continues to produce the goods into his 50s.
The Welshman is one more victory 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.
There, he ended the hopes of compatriot Daniel Wells after a generally scrappy match, in which he reeled off the last four frames from 3-2 down to get over the line.
This best-of-19 extravaganza represents the 32nd meeting between the players. Murphy shades the head-to-head 16-15, though Williams was a resounding 6-1 winner in their most recent clash at this season’s Saudi Arabia Masters.
The match breaks off at 7am BST on Monday with the opening nine frames, while playing to a conclusion from 12.30pm at Qujiang Sports Complex.
WATCH THE XI’AN GRAND PRIX FINAL LIVE HERE
18+ | T&Cs Apply | Geo restrictions may apply | Be Gamble Aware