International Snooker Championship: Zhao Zhentong, Wu Yiz, John Higgins and Stephen Maguire reach the semi-finals

Zhao Xintong ended Mark Selby’s title hopes and Wu Yizi continued an impressive run of form at the international tournament in Nanjing – where John Higgins and Stephen Maguire set up an all-Scottish semi-final.

World champion Zhao came back from a 4-2 deficit, after breaking Selby’s serve at 118 and 107, to win the quarter-finals 6-5 after 63 points in the deciding set.

The victory means the 28-year-old has reached the fourth round of a rankings event for the first time since winning the world title at the Crucible in May.

“It was unbelievable. It was my first time beating Mark Selby and I had to come back from behind. I’m very proud of myself,” Zhao told wst.tv.

Zhao will face fellow Chinese player Wu in the semi-finals and will need to stop his compatriot’s incredible momentum.

After Wu came back from 4-0 down to defeat Judd Trump 6-4 in the last 16 on Wednesday, the 22-year-old extended his winning streak in the frame to 12 with a 6-0 win over England’s Barry Hawkins.

The 22-year-old made six breaks of over 60, including runs of 73, 85, 111 and 86 in the final four frames of the match. He also had six breaks of over 60 in consecutive frames on his return against world number one Trump.

Four-time world champion Higgins, 50, had breaks of 112 and 116 in a 6-2 win over Shaun Murphy, who responded with 137 but was well beaten.

Veteran Scott Higgins aims to win the third ranking title in 2025 after previously spending four years without a title.

Higgins is third on the list of all-time title winners with 33 – three behind Stephen Hendry and eight short of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s total.

He will face Maguire in the quarter-finals after the tournament winner reeled off six straight frames to defeat England’s Zac Soretti 6-1, ending the campaign of the world number 60 who had taken 147 earlier in the week and beat former Crucible champion Neil Robertson.