Kyren Wilson stayed on course to defend his Shanghai Masters crown by beating Zhao Xintong 10-8 in a semi-final that turned on a powerful finish. Wilson, the defending champion and world number seven, recovered from 8-8 to win the final four frames and set up a final against Judd Trump on Sunday.
The result also gives Wilson a chance to do something he did last year, when he lifted the trophy after beating Ali Carter 11-9 in the final. This time, the challenge will be even bigger in one sense, with world number one Trump arriving in the title match after his own semi-final success.
Wilson finds the finish when it mattered
The key moment was not the start of the match, but the response when Zhao pulled level at 8-8. From there, Wilson produced the stronger closing spell and took the last four frames to seal a 10-8 victory.
That kind of finish is often what separates champions from contenders. Wilson has already shown he can handle that pressure on this stage, and his 2024 world title confirmed the level he can reach when the stakes rise.
Trump brings the final test
Trump booked his place in the final on Saturday with a 10-6 win over Wu Yize. That means Sunday’s best-of-21 meeting will bring together the defending champion and the world number one in what should be a high-level contest.
There is also a familiar edge to it for Wilson. He has a recent win over Trump in the Players Championship final last year, so this is not a matchup he will fear. But Trump is in the final on merit, and his path through the tournament underlines why he will go in as a serious threat.
What is at stake on Sunday
The winner will collect £210,000, which adds extra weight to a final that already has clear ranking and title significance. For Wilson, it is about defending his Shanghai Masters crown for a second straight year. For Trump, it is a chance to add another major title and reinforce his position at the top of the game.
After Wilson’s comeback against Zhao and Trump’s controlled semi-final win, the final is set up neatly. One player is trying to hold onto a title he already knows how to win. The other arrives as world number one with the confidence of a strong run through the event. That makes Sunday’s final the right kind of match to end the week.
