Wilson sinks O’Sullivan to seal Xi’an Grand Prix semi-final spot
Wilson beat O’Sullivan on Saturday (PA Images)
Ronnie O’Sullivan crashed out of the Xi’an Grand Prix after losing 5-2 to an inspired Gary Wilson in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The Tyneside Terror claimed only his second victory over the Rocket in seven attempts on the way to booking his place in the last four at Qujiang Sports Complex.
Wilson, for the fifth match running, hit two centuries (120 and 101) to take his tally for the 2025-26 campaign to 24, already more than he compiled during the whole of last season.
The three-time ranking event winner went on to win the tournament following his previous success over O’Sullivan at the 2022 Scottish Open, and is now just two more victories away from repeating that feat.
Wilson came flying out of the blocks with breaks of 74, 101 and 79 opening a 3-0 lead.
O’Sullivan, who had dropped just three frames in his opening four matches, responded with breaks of 65 and 84 to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
However, a break of 120 moved Wilson to the brink of victory, which he secured in the following frame with a superb 62 counter clearance from 52-8 down.
Next up for the Wuhan Open finalist is another of the season’s form players in British Open champion Shaun Murphy.
The Magician ended the hopes of home favourite Ding Junhui, hitting breaks of 121, 94, 77 and 64 along the way.
Earlier in the day, Mark Williams beat the other remaining Chinese player in the draw, edging out Lyu Haotian 5-4.
The three-time World champion led 4-2 after runs of 68 and 70 and, though pegged back to 4-4 after Haotian responded with 94 and 62, he controlled the decider to get over the line.
Williams will play Daniel Wells in an all-Welsh semi-final, after the latter ended Liam Pullen’s groundbreaking run.
A semi-finalist in the inaugural Xi’an Grand Prix, Wells made it back-to-back last-four appearances, and will now look to reach his maiden ranking final.
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Xi’an Grand Prix 2025 Results
Saturday October 11
Quarter-Finals
Liam Pullen 2-5 Daniel Wells
Lyu Haotian 4-5 Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy 5-3 Ding Junhui
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-5 Gary Wilson