Just four players remain in the running at Asia/Oceania Q School event one in Bangkok, with Sunny Akani, Ali Gharagozlou, Gao Yang and Kok Leong Lim left battling it out for two tour cards tomorrow.
Thailand's two-time ranking event quarter-finalist Akani earned his place in the final day with a 4-2 win over Lan Yuhao. Afterwards Akani admitted to facing health battles in recent years, which have hindered his attempts to return to the tour.
Akani said: "I have been struggling over the years with Long Covid and my physical condition has not been too strong to try and get back on the main tour. It still strikes me from time to time and I didn't fancy myself of coming this far in the Q School, as I have been busy producing snooker cues as an altertive way to make a living."
He now faces Iran's Gharagozlou, who becomes the first player from his country to reach the final round of Asia/Oceania Q School. He progressed thanks to a 4-1 win over Liu Yang.
The other semi-final will be contested between former Chinese professional Gao, who came through 4-0 against Ehsan Heydari Nezhad, and Malaysia's Lim, who defeated Liang Xiaolong 4-1.