Snooker Xi’an Masters Schedule: Semifinalists Decided on the 11th, Ding Junhui Faces Huge Pressure Against Murphy

On October 11th, Beijing time, the Snooker Xi’an Masters continues with four matches scheduled today to decide the semifinalists. China’s representatives, Lu Haotian and Ding Junhui, are both striving to reach the semifinals, though winning will be very difficult. One of the most watched encounters is the fierce duel between the two '80s stars, Ding Junhui and Murphy, which is attracting significant attention. The match will begin at 7:30 PM sharp and is highly anticipated!

Murphy and Ding Junhui are both world-renowned players, known among fans as two of the '80s elite. Both have won numerous titles; although Ding has more ranking event wins, Murphy holds a prestigious Grand Slam title—the World Championship. Currently, Ding is ranked seventh in the world, with Murphy at twelfth. However, Murphy has been in excellent form lately, having recently won the British Open, ending his title drought and narrowing the gap with Ding in ranking event victories. In this tournament, Murphy has maintained his strong performance, dominating the last 16 with a 5-0 victory over the world’s second-ranked top '90s player, Kyren Wilson, conceding only 6 points in five frames—a ruthless display. Meanwhile, Ding, playing on home soil, has shown a rare resurgence to reach the quarterfinals, partly due to facing less challenging opponents. Still, Ding carries the responsibility of representing the Chinese contingent and will face Murphy for a spot in the semifinals. Many believe Ding will find it hard to win!

It’s important to note that Ding Junhui’s level has dropped sharply recently, especially his long potting accuracy, and his ability to score consecutively has weakened. He often makes inexplicable simple mistakes that interrupt his scoring runs. Therefore, against Murphy, who excels both offensively and defensively and is in excellent form, Ding’s chances of winning are slim. Moreover, in their head-to-head record, Ding does not hold the advantage—Murphy is considered Ding’s nemesis!

The match will kick off tonight at prime time, 7:30 PM. Ding Junhui is our hope for the championship. We hope he will give his all to challenge his opponent and reach the semifinals. When rivals meet on a narrow path, the brave prevail. Let’s cheer him on!

Written by / Sports Fiction