Wilson and Williams reach NI Open semi-finals after quarter-final wins

Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams progressed to the semi-finals of the NI Open at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Friday after winning their quarter-final matches, keeping the possibility of a Wilson–Williams final alive.

World number nine Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams, who sits one place higher in the rankings, both prevailed in Belfast; Wilson is the 2024 world champion and also won the NI Open in 2024, while Williams is a 51-year-old three-time world champion and the 2017 NI Open winner.

Wilson produced a 6-1 victory over Anthony McGill in the afternoon session, compiling breaks of 77, 75 and 122 to establish a 4-0 lead; McGill replied with a 66 in the next frame but Wilson closed out the match and secured his first ranking-event semi-final appearance since March 2025, with compatriot Sam Craigie set as his next opponent.

Sam Craigie reached only his second-ever ranking event semi-final by beating Elliot Slessor 6-2; Slessor began with an 82 but Craigie won five consecutive frames to move into the last four.

Mark Williams overcame David Gilbert 6-4 in the evening session after Gilbert took a 3-1 lead with breaks of 62, 95 and 60; following two shared frames, Williams produced three consecutive centuries and won the next four frames to seal victory and a semi-final place.

Jak Jones edged Scott Donaldson 6-5 in a late-night decider, the match settled by an 84 in the final frame, and Jones—who has already claimed the British Open and Championship League titles this season—will be Williams's opponent in the semi-finals.

The semi-final match-ups are Kyren Wilson versus Sam Craigie, and Mark Williams versus Jak Jones, with Williams's tie scheduled as Saturday's second semi-final.