Wakelin Advances to International Championship Final

Chris Wakelin previously won his sole ranking title at the Shoot Out in 2023. Chris Wakelin defeated Xiao Guodong with a score of 9-8, decided in the final frame, thereby progressing to the International Championship final held in Nanjing. The English player established a 5-3 lead following the initial session and extended it to 8-5. However, he subsequently faltered, enabling China’s Xiao to equalize during a tense concluding phase. Nevertheless, the former supermarket delivery driver clinched his victory by executing a composed break of 67. This achievement also secured his entry into the top 16 of the world rankings for the first time, ensuring his seeding for the UK Championship scheduled for later this month. The 32-year-old, who accumulated eight half-centuries and one century during the match, is now set to compete against either Ding Junhui or Xu Si in Sunday’s final. “I’ve worked my entire life at this game for moments like this,” an emotional Wakelin stated. He added, “That was the hardest match of my life. From 8-5 I threw it away. I made ridiculously easy mistakes. In the decider I knew it was now or never. “I had to forget about what had happened. I’m so relieved to have a day off tomorrow because I’m done in.” Wakelin, having defeated three former world champions—Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, and John Higgins—during this tournament, will participate in only the third ranking event final of his professional career.