Ronnie O’Sullivan emerged victorious in a hard-fought quarter-final match against Matthew Selt at the Xi’an Grand Prix, securing a 5-4 win to advance to the semi-finals. Despite struggling to find his peak form, the seven-time world champion managed to hold his nerve in the final frame to clinch the victory. Selt, a former Indian Open holder, put up a strong fight and was the heavier scorer in the match, coming close to securing his first win against O’Sullivan. However, O’Sullivan’s experience and skill ultimately allowed him to prevail, setting up a semi-final clash against Kyren Wilson.
In the other quarter-final match, defending Crucible winner Kyren Wilson secured a comfortable 5-1 win over world No. 58 Xu Si. Wilson’s solid performance, including impressive breaks of 69, 50, and 115, helped him progress to the semi-finals. Xu Si’s 51 break in the third frame was not enough to prevent Wilson from dominating the match. Wilson’s victory set up a semi-final showdown against O’Sullivan, with both players scheduled to face off in a best-of-11 frame match on Saturday morning.
As the remaining quarter-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix began, Judd Trump faced David Gilbert and Barry Hawkins confronted Daniel Wells. Trump, who aims to surpass Steve Davis’ ranking event tally in China, was eager to continue his strong performance in the tournament. The quarter-final matches promised to be closely contested, with the remaining players vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
Following his win over Matthew Selt, Ronnie O’Sullivan expressed his satisfaction with the surroundings at the Xi’an Grand Prix, likening the atmosphere to being on a film set. Despite facing a tough challenge from Selt, O’Sullivan managed to navigate through the match and secure a narrow victory in the deciding frame. With his semi-final match against Kyren Wilson looming, O’Sullivan will look to maintain his momentum and advance to the final of the tournament.
Overall, the quarter-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix showcased intense competition and high-quality snooker from the participating players. With the semi-final matches set to determine the finalists of the tournament, fans can expect more thrilling moments and impressive performances from the top snooker players. As O’Sullivan and Wilson prepare to face off in the semi-finals, the stage is set for an exciting showdown between two accomplished players seeking to claim victory at the prestigious tournament.
