Wuhan Open 2025 recap - Gary Wilson beats Mark Allen to set up showdown with Xiao Guodong in Saturday's final

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Gary Wilson has booked a showdown with Xiao Guodong in this year's Wuhan Open final. Reigning champion Xiao's title defence remains on course after beating Mark Williams 6-3, while Wilson ousted Mark Allen 6-2. You can watch the 2025 Wuhan Open live on TNT Sports and discovery+

'Terrific clearance' - Wilson hits century in sixth frame against Allen

Video credit: TNT Sports

Wilson shoots down Pistol to set up Saturday showdown with Xiao

Gary Wilson will play Xiao Guodong in the 2025 Wuhan Open final, following a 6-2 victory over Mark Allen.

The Tyneside Terror hit breaks of 113, 78, 77 and 70 and reeled off the last five frames to set up a showdown with Xiao, who beat Mark Williams 6-3 earlier in the day.

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Wilson opened with a break of 77, but a superb 135 total clearance in a re-racked second frame and further run of 66 put Allen 2-1 to the good.

However, the Tyneside Terror levelled before a wonderful 113 clearance restored his advantage.

Allen looked to respond and built a 54-0 lead in frame six. Yet, a lovely long red paved the way for Wilson to clear with 78 and establish a two-frame buffer for the first time.

A break of 70 then moved the three-time ranking event winner to the brink of victory, which he secured after overturning a 40-0 deficit to advance to Saturday's showpiece.

WILSON WINS

Wilson knocks in the pink to wrap up a 6-2 win and book seal his spot in Saturday's final!

Allen 2-5 Wilson (40-56)

Wilson clears to the blue to lead by 16 points with just 13 remaining.

Allen will play on, but getting the snooker will be no easy task.

Allen 2-5 Wilson (40-32)

A loose safety from Allen sees him leave the penultimate red on for Wilson.

The only problem may be the blue and yellow, which are in close proximity on the latter's spot.

If he can navigate that, though, then this is a great chance...

Allen 2-5 Wilson (40-31)

The three-time ranking event winner gets himself back into the frame.

But with pink and black tied up, he is forced to play safe with two reds remaining.

Allen 2-5 Wilson (40-0)

Allen looks to respond, but breaks down on 40 after running out of position.

There is work to do for Wilson, but this is his first opportunity to seal frame and match.

Allen 2-5 Wilson

Another couple of pots are enough to get the three-time ranking event winner over the line in the frame.

He is now three up with four to play and, more importantly, one away from a place in the final.

Allen 2-4 Wilson (0-70)

A break of 70 gets Wilson to the snookers required stage in frame seven.

Allen comes back to the table, but he faces a tall order.

Allen 2-4 Wilson

The Tyneside Terror superbly clears with 78 to establish a two-frame buffer for the first time today.

Allen 2-3 Wilson (54-1)

Allen takes a commanding lead in the sixth frame, but cannot convert his opportunity.

Wilson drops in a brilliant long-range red and has the chance to counter...

Allen 2-3 Wilson

Wilson back in front after a wonderful clearance of 113.

'Terrific clearance' - Wilson hits century in sixth frame against Allen

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 2-2 Wilson (0-16)

We're back under way in frame five, with the Tyneside Terror taking an early lead.

'Lovely stuff'

Relive the highlight of the match so far from frame two, when Allen made his fifth century of the week.

'Lovely stuff' - Allen hits 135 total clearance against Wilson

Video credit: TNT Sports

Allen 2-2 Wilson

Allen has the chance to make it 3-1, but misses a dead-weight brown to the yellow pocket.

Following a safety exchange, the Pistol fails to hit the brown when attempting to escape a snooker.

The Tyneside Terror eventually sees out the frame to level at the mid-session interval.

Allen 2-1 Wilson (25-59)

The Pistol has the chance to potentially clear and steal.

However, he misses the final red when attempting to cut it into the left centre.

There is life in this frame yet, but it looks like it will come down to that red.

Allen 2-1 Wilson (1-59)

Wilson takes command of the fourth frame with a break of 53.

He leads by 58 points with 59 remaining.

Allen 2-1 Wilson

A run of 66 sees Allen punish a missed pink from Wilson, and edge his nose in front in the contest.

Allen 1-1 Wilson

It is an opportunity the Pistol takes with both hands in superb fashion.

A magnificent total clearance of 135 puts him back on level terms.

Allen 0-1 Wilson (4-0)

Both players eventually agree on a very welcome re-rack.

Allen now has a decent opportunity to get in the balls after a Wilson in-off.

Allen 0-1 Wilson (12-27)

Picture this; the frame is already half an hour old, with the nine remaining reds close to the right corner, but blocked by the pink and black.

Safe to say we have reached something of a stalemate...

Allen 0-1 Wilson (7-19)

Wilson with an early chance in frame two, until he misses a black off the spot to the right corner.

Three's a crowd

Both players have enjoyed a welcome upturn in fortunes this week, especially Wilson.

The three-time ranking event winner has already defeated three former World champions in Shaun Murphy, Judd Trump and John Higgins.

Allen 0-1 Wilson

First blood to the Tyneside Terror, who opens with a break of 77.

Here we go

The players are introduced into the area, Wilson breaks off, and we are under way again in Wuhan.

Welcome back

Good afternoon to everyone joining us for the second of today's semi-final showdowns.

A quick reminder that Xiao Guodong is already through to Saturday's final, a 6-3 winner over Mark Williams.

But who will he play?

Stay tuned

Don't go too far away! In just over an hour's time, we will have coverage of the second semi-final between Mark Allen and Gary Wilson.

They break off at 12.30pm UK time, so be sure to join us again then.

Xiao sees off Williams to reach Wuhan Open final

Xiao Guodong is through to his second successive Wuhan Open final, following a 6-3 victory over Mark Williams.

The reigning champion is now one win away from completing a successful title defence, after reeling off the last four frames to deny the three-time World champion.

A run of 52 put Xiao in control of the opening frame at 64-36 up, but Williams cleared with 33 from the final red to pinch it on the black.

The Chinese levelled, but the Welshman went back in front with 81, before opening with 43 with the first opportunity of frame three.

However, Xiao responded with 53 and, after winning a safety battle, squared things up again at the mid-session interval.

A neat clearance of 75 put Williams back in front, but his opponent won the next three frames - aided by a top break of 80 - to move to the brink of victory.

The three-time World champion opened frame nine with a contribution of 58 as he looked to keep his hopes alive.

But Xiao needed no second invitation, with a nerveless 69 clearance snatching the frame on the black and booking his place in the final.

WOW FOR XIAO

Xiao Guodong completes a 69 clearance to pinch the frame on the black and, more importantly, wrap up a 6-3 victory over Mark Williams.

The reigning champion makes it 13 straight wins at the Wuhan Open, and will play either Mark Allen or Gary Wilson in Saturday's final.

Williams 3-5 Xiao (58-42)

He's down to the colours. He needs them all for victory...

Williams 3-5 Xiao (58-19)

Xiao with a chance to counter and it's a great one, too, with the opportunity to clinch frame and match.

Williams 3-5 Xiao (58-0)

Williams responds with a run of 58 to put him in a strong position in frame nine.

He is not over the line just yet, but a couple more pots will get him there.

Williams 3-5 Xiao

The Welshman has the chance to steal, but leaves a dead-weight yellow over the corner, and swiftly concedes.

Xiao is now one frame away from a place in the final.

Williams 3-4 Xiao (23-65)

Xiao establishes a 42-point lead with 43 remaining.

The last two reds are relatively safe as Williams looks to stay in the frame.

Williams 3-4 Xiao (7-24)

The Chinese with an early lead in this eighth frame, but it already looks like we are in for another cagey one.

Neither player looks overly keen to chance their arm as of yet.

Williams 3-4 Xiao

A timely one-visit frame for the defending champion, who makes a nice break of 80 to lead for the first time in this match.

Williams 3-3 Xiao

Xiao pots the yellow and green, which is enough to get him over the line and back on level terms.

Williams 3-2 Xiao (36-58)

Xiao builds a 38-point lead before missing a blue to the right centre.

Williams reduces his arrears, but misses the blue when trying to get position on the yellow.

We are down to the colours with 22 points the difference.

'Looking a little embarrassed!' - Xiao drops cue just as Williams prepares for shot

Video credit: TNT Sports

Williams 3-2 Xiao (20-26)

It's been a scrappy start to the sixth frame, with both players unable to capitalise on early opportunities.

Williams 3-2 Xiao

Williams takes control of the fifth frame, before tying up Xiao in a fiendish snooker behind the green and brown.

The Chinese's failed escape enables him to clear with 75 and regain the advantage.

Back under way

The players are back from their 15-minute break, and Xiao resumes this tightly contested semi-final.

Williams 2-2 Xiao

Williams hits the red at the second attempt, but leaves it over the top-left corner.

Xiao steps in to clear and level at the mid-session interval.

Williams 2-1 Xiao (43-53)

The reigning champion makes a nice break of 53 to edge his nose in front, but runs out of position on the final red.

He lays a neat snooker behind the blue, leaving his opponent on the back foot in this frame.

Williams 2-1 Xiao (43-0)

The three-time World champion is in again in frame four after a brilliant opening red.

However, he breaks down on 43 after missing a red to the right centre.

Xiao with the chance to counter...

Williams 2-1 Xiao

Much better from Williams, with a swift 81 putting him back in front.

Williams 1-1 Xiao

The Welshman eventually concedes and we are all square in this semi-final.

Williams 1-0 Xiao (15-57)

A run of 30 puts Xiao 42 points to the good with 35 remaining.

Williams needs two snookers, and will play on for now...

Williams 1-0 Xiao (15-27)

The three-time World champion cannot capitalise after missing a tricky red along the bottom rail.

Who will take this frame by the scruff of the neck?

Williams 1-0 Xiao (7-27)

It is still quite scrappy out there with both players missing relatively routine pots.

Williams is back at the table with a chance to close the gap at the very least.

Williams 1-0 Xiao (0-25)

Xiao takes early control of the second frame, but breaks down after missing a tricky cut to the left centre.

History beckons

At almost 50-and-a-half years of age, Williams is just two more wins away from becoming the oldest ranking event winner in snooker history.

Indeed, he would break the late Ray Reardon's 43-year record.

Williams 1-0 Xiao

First blood to the Welshman, who makes a 33 clearance from the final red to steal the first frame on the black.

That is an early blow for the reigning champion.

Williams 0-0 Xiao (36-64)

It looks like this opening frame will come down to the last red, with 28 points the difference.

Who will blink first in the latest safety exchange?

Williams 0-0 Xiao (21-58)

Xiao takes control of the frame with a break of 52, before rattling a tricky red along the bottom rail in the jaws of the left corner.

There are still plenty of points available for Williams, though the five remaining reds are currently tied up.

Williams 0-0 Xiao (21-6)

Understandably, things are a little scrappy in this opening frame, with a combined 14 penalty points already conceded.

Williams has the first clear opportunity, but runs out of position after an untimely cannon on the black, and the safety battle resumes.

Unlucky 13?

Xiao is riding the crest of a wave at the moment.

Having won a Gold Medal at the World Games in Chengdu earlier this month, he began this week with a superb 147 during a 5-0 whitewash of Mink Nutcharut.

He followed that up with victories over the likes of Matthew Selt and Stan Moody to extend his winning streak at the Wuhan Open to 12 matches.

Here they come

The players are welcomed into the arena, they shake hands and Xiao breaks off.

Good morning

First up today, we have an intriguing battle between three-time Crucible king Mark Williams and defending Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong.

Williams has dominated the head-to-head 5-1, including a 10-6 victory in their most recent showdown in last season's Champion of Champions final.

Semi-final action in China

The Wuhan Open has reached the semi-final stage, with Xiao Guodong still on course to defend his title.

The Chinese star will kick things off against Mark Williams at 7am UK time on Friday morning, with Gary Wilson taking on Mark Allen in the second semi-final later in the day.

The action is live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with live updates right here as the morning and evening sessions in Wuhan unfold.

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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Wuhan Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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