England Score Narrow Win Over Thailand

England reached the semi-finals of the Beverly World Cup in China with an exciting 4-3 win over Thailand.

English duo Jack Lisowski and Kyren Wilson will now meet China’s B team of Liang Wenbo and Zhou Yuelong in the semis on Sunday.

China’s A team of Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao thrashed Hong Kong 4-0 to earn a meeting with Scotland.

Hong Kong were the surprise package of the tournament having come through the toughest group, but were no match for their Chinese opponents who scored top breaks of 57 and 56. Home favourite Ding is aiming to lift the World Cup trophy for the third time having won it alongside Liang in 2011 and 2017.

Thailand pair Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Noppon Saengkham led England three times and were just two balls away from victory at 3-2. But Saengkham failed to convert the final pink and was punished when Wilson enjoyed a huge slice of luck as he missed the pink to one baulk corner but saw it travel around the table and drop into the other. He then potted a difficult black with the rest for 3-3.

Lisowski got the better of the decider against Un-Nooh, winning it 78-14 with a top break of 48.

England are hoping to win the World Cup for the first time since 1989.