The quarter-finals of the 2026 World Grand Prix take place on Friday with a record six Chinese players among the last eight involved.
The ranking tournament, which boasts only the top 32 from the one-year rankings list, began with ten contenders from China and only Ding Junhui lost in the opening round.
An unprecedented six have now reached the quarter-finals, with just two Englishmen still in with a shot of glory at the Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong.
With a £180,000 top prize up for grabs, three wins now separate the remaining competitors from the lucrative title.
Here is a look at each of the four quarter-final ties.
Zhou Yuelong vs Ali Carter
Zhou Yuelong and Ali Carter set up a last-eight battle against one another after securing one-sided victories over Jak Jones and Yuan Sijun respectively.
While their primary focus this week will of course be on securing the silverware, a small distraction will be their efforts to earn qualification to the upcoming Players Championship.
That tournament will feature only the top 16 from the one-year rankings, and Zhou provisionally holds onto the 16th and final ticket as things stand.
Carter, meanwhile, is down in 20th and needs to reach the final if he is to have a chance of forcing his way into the draw in Telford.
When is it? Friday, 11:00 GMT
Wu Yize vs Zhang Anda
Wu Yize and Zhang Anda each recorded 5-3 triumphs in the last round, respectively overcoming Chang Bingyu and Barry Hawkins.
After dropping out of the top 16 on the official two-year world rankings towards the end of last year, Zhang has been a much-improved force again.
Wu, meanwhile, highlighted again why he represents one of the best talents in the game at present – emerging from his high-quality showdown with fellow young hotshot Chang.
Both players are chasing a second ranking crown having each got their hands on the International Championship trophy in recent years.
When is it? Friday, 5:00 GMT
Si Jiahui vs Xiao Guodong
The other all-Chinese clash at the quarter-finals stage in Hong Kong pits Si Jiahui against Xiao Guodong.
Xiao produced a solid display to beat the struggling Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last round, while Si held off a spirited fight back from Pang Junxu to prevail by the same two-frame margin.
Si is provisionally 17th on the one-year list and is set to just miss out on a spot at the Players Championship as things stand, but Xiao in tenth has no such concerns.
The Chinese duo share an even head-to-head record overall, but Xiao has happy memories of beating Si in the final of the 2024 Wuhan Open.
When is it? Friday, 5:00 GMT
Chris Wakelin vs Zhao Xintong
Zhao Xintong, who is the new tournament favourite with odds of 9/4, produced a strong finish to overturn a 4-1 deficit and deny Mark Selby in a deciding frame on Thursday.
The reigning world champion, who beat John Higgins in round one, remains on course to claim a first ranking title since that success at the Crucible Theatre last May.
In 18th provisionally, Zhao is another one of the chasing pack who are trying to hunt down spots at the Players Championship.
Up next for the 28 year-old is Chris Wakelin, who also scrambled through in a nine-frame thriller against Elliot Slessor.
Wakelin, the Scottish Open champion from December, is not only assured of a Players Championship place but is practically assured of a Tour Championship (top 12 from the one-year list) berth as well.
When is it? Friday, 11:00 GMT
Featured photo credit: WST
Is six a record for China at any ranking event?
Yes, the previous was five at the last eight stage of the 2022 Championship League.
I wasn’t sure as you just mentioned a record for the World Grand Prix
I was thinking about the possible Chinese domination coming up and the number of young British players. I don’t know if anyone has highlighted this stat but it’s quite striking.
The Top 64 rankings only has 3 British players under 30 (Page, Hill, Moody).
Granted, there are other players coming onto the scene and there’s also been a recent trend of players hitting form in their 30s, so there’s always time to improve, but it’s an interesting trend.
Yes, I’ve written articles about those trends. I was speaking to some German fans in Berlin, where there were 16 players under-30: Ishpreet Singh Chadha (29), Sanderson Lam (29), Julien Leclercq (22), and 13 Chinese players (although two pulled out). They keep changing the format of the GM, which is a pity since last year there were several players from mainland Europe who had great support in the crowds, such as a huge Polish flag draped over seats when Kowalski was playing.
As you say, I do expect many of the British players to do better in their 30’s, in the way that Wakelin, Surety and Jak Jones have been doing. There’s still obviously a huge advantage.