Murphy Survives Wilson Challenge to Reach Second Straight Final

Shaun Murphy continued his sensational form with a 6-4 victory over Gary Wilson at the Xi'an Grand Prix, securing back-to-back ranking final appearances. The 2025 British Open champion showcased break-building mastery with three century clearances (141, 136, 130) in a dramatic semi-final comeback from 3-1 down.

Key Match Stats:

• 94% pot success rate
• 141 clearance in decisive 10th frame
• 14 consecutive match wins since September

Williams Defies Age in Welsh Derby

Three-time world champion Mark Williams edged compatriot Daniel Wells 6-3 in a tense all-Welsh semi-final. The 50-year-old veteran overcame mid-match struggles to produce a tournament-high 129 break, positioning himself to break Ray Reardon's 43-year-old record as the oldest ranking event winner.

Williams' Road to History:

• Potential record-breaking age: 50 years, 8 months
• 25th career ranking final appearance
• First Chinese ranking final since 2018 China Open

Final Preview: Experience vs Momentum

The Sunday night final (19:00 BST) features contrasting narratives:

Murphy's Charge:

• "This purple patch won't last forever, so I'm grabbing it with both hands" - Murphy
• 23 century breaks in last 10 matches
• Seeking first Chinese ranking title

Williams' Legacy Play:

• "If I play like today, they'll need a broom to sweep me off the table" - Williams
• 3-2 head-to-head record vs Murphy in finals
• Last met in 2022 Tour Championship quarter-finals

Tournament Impact

Broadcast live on BBC Sport and Eurosport