Wu Yize defeats Zhao Xintong to advance to WST International Championship final

Wu Yize and Zhao Xintong faced off in an all-Chinese semifinal at the WST (World Snooker Tour) International Championship in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Friday, with Wu claiming a 9-6 upset victory to advance to the title match.

The first session ended with the two players knotted at 4-4, as Wu fired in a break of 140 to take the fourth frame, before extending his momentum to chalk up two more. But the reigning world champion Zhao responded by clinching the next two frames to pull level.

Wu displayed better form after the interval, bagging four straight frames with four breaks of more than 70, including a century of 108. Although Zhao pulled back the 13th and 14th to prolong the contest, he couldn't stop his compatriot from sealing the deal 73-8 in the 15th frame.

After extending his head-to-head advantage over Zhao to 6-3, World No. 22 Wu will face the winner of the other semifinal between Scottish opponents John Higgins and Stephen Maguire for the championship trophy.

"I have watched John Higgins and Stephen Maguire play snooker matches since I was a child," Wu said. "And I should prepare well if I want to win, as I came here with the aim of becoming the champion."