China’s Xiao Guodong produced a devastating display to thrash 2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy 5-1 and reach the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open.
Victory for Xiao sees him reach the semis of a ranking event on Chinese soil. The 35-year-old was runner-up to Ding Junhui in the 2013 Shanghai Masters. However, despite making the title match at the 2017 Shoot Out, he hasn’t made a full format final since 2013. Tomorrow he has the opportunity to reach a second ranking final when he faces compatriot Long Zehuang.
Today’s result acts as revenge for 35-year-old Xiao after a quarter-final loss at the hands of Murphy in the recent inaugural running of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, where Murphy prevailed 6-2.
Xiao came firing out of the traps this afternoon with three back-to-back century runs of 139, 113 and 125 to immediately pull clear at 3-0. A run of 75 in the next moved him just a frame away from victory at 4-0 heading into the mid-session.
When play resumed Murphy showed his class with a 112 to respond to the barrage of breaks from Xiao and reduce his arrears. However, there was to be no comeback, with Xiao clinching the tie in the sixth to emerge a 5-1 victor.
"I got into my rhythm faster than Shaun and I capitalized on the opportunities he gave me. In the first four frames, I made hardly any mistakes. That helped me build a solid lead and lay a good foundation for the rest of the match,” said world number 29 Xiao.
“To be honest, I wasn’t favored in this draw, going up against Kyren Wilson, Barry Hawkins, and Shaun Murphy. They are all tough opponents, so I’m just glad I was able to showcase my game.
“It’s great that two Chinese players have reached the semi-finals in a Chinese event, guaranteeing a spot in the final for one of us. Congratulations to Long Zehuang. We’re very close and we play together every day at Ding’s Academy and often eat together. I’m really happy to be facing him on such a big stage.”
Long earned his place in a maiden semi-final with a 5-1 demolition of six-time ranking event finalist Jack Lisowski.
Former World Junior 9-ball Champion Long is competing in front of his home fans this week in Wuhan, having grown up in the region. It was an emotional moment for his family, who were looking on from the stands as he got over the line.
“I didn’t expect this scoreline, or to make it to the semi-finals. I feel like I had a bit of luck. My performance was normal, but in snooker, sometimes you need that bit of luck. This is my first time reaching the semi-finals and I hadn’t expected it,” said 27-year-old Long.
“Playing at home helps a bit because I’m familiar with the environment. I felt quite relaxed during the match. I heard just now that Xiao Guodong won his match, so I’ll prepare to learn from him. I don’t have any particular expectations—just a mindset of learning and focusing on playing every shot well."