The 2026 China Open is right down to its closing 4 with the semi-finals taking centre stage on Saturday in Taiyuan.
Again on the calendar for the primary time since 2019, the profitable rating occasion has already seen quite a few huge names depart with just one challenger remaining from the elite group of high 16 seeds.
Three-time champion Mark Selby is bidding for one more China Open crown, whereas Stuart Bingham is chasing his first rating title since 2019.
Within the different semi-final, Noppon Saengkham’s unbelievable run continues towards Zhou Yuelong, with each gamers introduced with an enormous alternative to succeed in one other rating occasion closing.
Here’s a take a look at the 2 upcoming fixtures within the 2026 China Open semi-finals.
Mark Selby vs Stuart Bingham
Mark Selby has been in ruthless kind to date in Taiyuan and now stands simply two wins away from a document fourth China Open title.
The Englishman was the champion in 2015, 2017, and 2018, and his newest bid acquired one other vital enhance when he thrashed defending champion Neil Robertson 6-1 within the quarter-finals.
That outcome not solely booked Selby’s place within the final 4 but additionally ended Robertson’s rapid hopes of returning to the world primary place.
Selby may really finish August because the world primary himself, though he would want to win the China Open after which observe that up with one other title on the upcoming Wuhan Open.
The four-time world champion has actually given himself a superb platform to take action, having misplaced simply 4 frames throughout his first three matches this week.
Standing in his means is Stuart Bingham, who booked his place within the semi-finals with a 6-3 victory over Zhang Anda.
It represents Bingham’s first rating occasion semi-final of the 2026 calendar yr, and the 50 year-old will now be hoping to go all the way in which in a event the place the £250,000 high prize remains to be up for grabs.
Like Selby, Bingham is a former world champion having lifted the Crucible trophy in 2015.
He’s additionally bidding to seize the seventh rating title of his profession and his first for the reason that Gibraltar Open greater than seven years in the past.
Considerably surprisingly, there’s completely nothing between the pair of their total head-to-head document.
Selby and Bingham have met 45 instances in all competitions in accordance with Cue Tracker, with every participant successful 22 of these encounters whereas sharing one draw.
When is it? Saturday, 12:30pm BST
Noppon Saengkham vs Zhou Yuelong
Noppon Saengkham’s outstanding giant-killing spree continued on Friday with a 6-4 victory over Shaun Murphy within the quarter-finals.
The Thai had beforehand knocked out world primary Judd Trump and crowd favorite Ronnie O’Sullivan, and he’s now only one match away from reaching the ultimate of a rating occasion for less than the second time in his profession.
His solely earlier look in a rating closing got here on the 2023 Scottish Open, the place he was denied a maiden title by Gary Wilson.
Standing between him and one other shot at glory is Zhou Yuelong, who produced a terrific comeback to edge out David Gilbert in a deciding body.
Zhou trailed 3-0 and later discovered himself 5-4 behind, however he managed to drive a decider earlier than retaining his composure to safe his place within the final 4.
The Chinese language star is one other participant nonetheless looking for that elusive first rating title.
Zhou has already appeared in 4 rating occasion finals throughout his profession with out managing to get his arms on the trophy, notably shedding final season’s English Open closing to Mark Allen in a 9-8 thriller.
Saengkham and Zhou are due to this fact regarded among the many greatest gamers within the recreation but to win a rating occasion, making Saturday’s conflict a very vital alternative for each.
The winner will attain the ultimate of one of many richest tournaments on the calendar and transfer inside one victory of lastly breaking their ranking-title duck.
Saengkham leads their head-to-head document 4-3, though the pair have beforehand solely met as soon as over the best-of-11 frames.
That got here ultimately yr’s Worldwide Championship, when Saengkham prevailed 6-4.
When is it? Saturday, 7:00am BST
Featured picture credit score: WST
