Hawkins holds off Wu to reach Welsh Open final

Barry Hawkins resisted a fightback as he clinched a 6-4 victory over Wu Yize to reach the Welsh Open final for the second time in his career.

‘The Hawk’ started the last-four encounter in Llandudno strongly, winning four of the first five frames – with 72 and 66 breaks among the Englishman’s highlights.

But China’s Wu, 22, responded in stunning fashion to level the match at 4-4 by reeling off three consecutive frames thanks to a pair of half-centuries and a 122 break in the eighth frame.

Despite an impressive 59 break from Wu, Hawkins edged a thrilling ninth frame to regain the lead.

And the 46-year-old completed the job efficiently to book his place in Sunday’s final.

“I’m over the moon, I’m pleased with that. He threw everything at me at the end there,” Hawkins told BBC Sport.

“4-1 up, I miscued a red with the rest and then I didn’t see a ball. He just went into one.

“He missed a black off the spot at 4-4. I should have cleared up there. I let the white run away and thought ‘that’s my chance gone’.”

Hawkins will face the winner of Saturday night’s semi-final between five-time Welsh Open champion John Higgins and Jack Lisowski.

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Welsh Open day six (semi-finals)

Barry Hawkins 6-4 Wu Yize

John Higgins v Jack Lisowski (19:00 GMT)