The race to win the 2025 Wuhan Open is heating up with eight contenders left vying for glory and the quarter-finals to come on Thursday’s schedule.
All but two of the remaining players are members of the top 16, indicating that it’ll be a hard-fought climax to this week’s action in China.
None of this season’s winners so far are still involved, guaranteeing a new name on a trophy for the fledgling 2025/26 campaign.
Let’s take a look at the four quarter-finals in the 2025 Wuhan Open draw.
Xiao Guodong vs Stan Moody
Reigning Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong is putting up a fine defence of the maiden ranking title he won a year ago.
The 36 year-old compiled a 147 break in his first outing with Mink Nutcharut and reached the last eight through a comfortable 5-2 defeat of Matthew Selt on Wednesday.
Xiao skipped the recent Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, giving up a lucrative opportunity to instead compete at the World Games where he won a gold medal for China.
He is certainly making up for lost time at what is turning into arguably his favourite event on the calendar.
Stan Moody will be Xiao’s next opponent after the teenager produced a fine display to thrash Barry Hawkins 5-0 in the last 16.
It’s the first time that 18 year-old Moody has reached this stage of a ranking event, and there’s every indication that it could become a regular occurrence in the years to come.
When is it? Thursday, August 28th at 7am UTC+1 (BST)
Mark Williams vs Zhang Anda
Mark Williams emerged as a 5-3 winner over Mark Selby in what was the tie of the last 16 on day four of the tournament.
Williams continues to point to developing problems with his eyesight and energy levels, but those issues haven’t stopped him from producing on the baize.
The Welshman hunts down a 27th career ranking title and will face Zhang Anda for a berth in Friday’s semi-finals.
It had been a quiet period for Zhang and his provisional ranking for the UK Championship is way down at number 23 in the world.
A deep run this week would be timely then in his attempt to retain his status among the top 16, and he came through a dramatic battle with Aaron Hill in a deciding frame to extend his run further.
Williams boasts a superior head-to-head advantage from their prior meetings but did lose to Zhang the last time they crossed paths in China.
When is it? Thursday, August 28th at 7am UTC+1 (BST)
Gary Wilson vs John Higgins
With Mark Williams still going strong in the top half and John Higgins featuring in the bottom half, fans will surely already have one eye on a potential final showdown between the two all-time legends.
Higgins has expressed a lacking for motivation so far this term, but his permanent class has seen him coast through most rounds at the Wuhan Open.
The Scot won two ranking titles at the back end of last season and another quickly into this campaign would certainly reignite the fire in his belly.
In the Wuhan Open quarter-finals, Higgins meets Gary Wilson who won the last two frames to edge world number one Judd Trump 5-4 yesterday.
Wilson is officially ranked at 18 but is up to a provisional 16th in the Race to the UK Championship standings, so the three-time ranking event winner might have that on his mind.
When is it? Thursday, August 28th at 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui
If it feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Mark Allen this far into a tournament, it’s because it is a long time.
Indeed, it’s the first occasion all calendar year that the Pistol has embarked on a run to the quarter-finals of a ranking event.
Allen dispatched maximum man Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to get to this point, with Si Jiahui his upcoming challenge to overcome.
The latter narrowly missed out on success at this event a year ago when he was defeated by Xiao Guodong in the final, and a repeat title decider could be on the cards this year.
Si, who beat Championship League Snooker winner Stephen Maguire in the last 16, has a dismal record against Allen, though.
The Chinese competitor has only beaten the Northern Irishman once, and that was over just one frame at the Snooker Shoot Out in 2024.
When is it? Thursday, August 28th at 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
2025 Wuhan Open draw
Round of 16 (bo9)
Results
Xiao Guodong 5-2 Matthew Selt
Barry Hawkins 0-5 Stan Moody
Mark Williams 5-3 Mark Selby
Zhang Anda 5-4 Aaron Hill
Judd Trump 4-5 Gary Wilson
Tom Ford 1-5 John Higgins
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 1-5 Mark Allen
Si Jiahui 5-2 Stephen Maguire
Quarter-Finals (bo9)
Thursday, 7am UTC+1 (BST)
Xiao Guodong vs Stan Moody
Mark Williams vs Zhang Anda
Thursday, 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Gary Wilson vs John Higgins
Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui
Click here to view the full updated draw (snooker.org)
Featured photo credit: WST
