Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a 5-2 defeat to Gary Wilson in the Xi’an Grand Prix, putting an end to his hot streak. The Rocket had been dominant, dropping only three frames on his way to the quarter-finals. However, Wilson took a commanding 3-0 lead before securing a spot in the semi-finals against Shaun Murphy. O’Sullivan had a glimmer of hope after Wilson made mistakes in the fourth frame, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Despite recent impressive performances, O’Sullivan’s 21-month wait for a ranking title continues. He started strong in the tournament, defeating Yao Pengcheng 5-1 and Stephen Maguire 5-0 before cruising past Jak Jones 5-2 in the last-16. However, Wilson proved to be a tough opponent for the seven-time champion. Wilson highlighted the mental aspect of facing O’Sullivan, emphasizing the need to block out distractions and focus on playing one’s game. The world no. 17 expressed confidence in his abilities, stating that he feels in control and ready to take on anyone in the world.
In the other semi-final match, Murphy will face Wilson after defeating Ding Junhui 5-3. Mark Williams and Daniel Wells will meet in an all-Welsh semi-final clash after securing victories over Lyu Haotian and Liam Pullen, respectively. Williams fought hard for a 5-4 win against Haotian, while Wells had a more comfortable 5-2 victory over Pullen. The stage is set for an exciting finish to the Xi’an Grand Prix, with players eager to secure a spot in the final and claim the coveted title.
