Kyren Wilson closes in on back-to-back titles as he reaches last four in China
Kettering potter Kyren Wilson will take on China's Fan Zhengyi in the semi-finals of the International Championships in Nanjing on Thursday morning (Nov 5).
Wilson secured his place in the last four with a battling 6-4 win against another home player Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals, and is now two wins away from claiming back-to-back ranking titles.
Wilson was a winner last time out in the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, and if he can follow that success with another one in China then it will be first time in his career he will have won two tournaments in succession.
"It would be amazing to win back-to-back ranking events," said Wilson, who is based at Barratts Club in Northampton.
"It is important to keep a run of confidence going as long as you can. I've won a couple of really tough matches this week.
"I've played a few deciders and beat some great players. To be in a semi-final off the back of winning one is a nice confidence boost and hopefully it continues."
On his battle with home favourite Junhui, Wilson said: "It is like playing Ronnie O'Sullivan in London, but times a billion.
"He's an absolute legend out there. We owe it to Ding Junhui as the reason we have a lot of snooker out here.
"I believe he is coming into form and he's beaten some very good players this week. He still wants it and is very hungry. It's always a blockbuster when you play him in China."
The semi-final will be the first to nine frames, and Wilson said: "I'm now looking forward to the semi-finals.
"It will almost be a World Championship round one type feel with it being over two sessions.
"There are some great players left in and I'm glad to be one of them."
Prior to beating Junhui in the quarters, Wilson saw off Liam Highfield 6-5 in round one, Ryan Day 6-1 in round two and Oliver Lines 6-5 in the last 16.
The other semi-final sees Scotland's John Higgins play another Chinese player in Chang Bingyu.