German Masters: Zhao Xintong wins to set up all-Chinese final against Yan Bingtao
- Sean Fisher
- 30 January 2022
Zhao Xintong will face compatriot Yan Bingtao in the German Masters final after seeing off Ricky Walden in the semi-finals.
Zhao Xintong booked his place in the German Masters final on Saturday afternoon, winning the last five frames against Ricky Walden.
Xintong surprisingly eased his way to the semi-final after beating world No.2 Judd Trump in the previous round, but the 24-year-old found himself down early on.
Walden claimed a 3-1 lead before the interval of Saturday's match-up at the Tempodrom.
However, Xintong clinched the fifth frame 63-60, which turned out to be the catalyst for a comeback.
Shortly after, Xintong followed it up with two half-century breaks and a clearance of 100 in the ninth frame to secure a 6-3 victory.
Zhao Xintong wins five frames in a row to advance to the final of the BildBet German Masters!
ā World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) January 29, 2022
6-3 #GermanMasters #BVEuroSeries pic.twitter.com/wWrt0ukGmj
Now in the final, Xintong will face his compatriot Yan Bingtao, who also enjoyed a dramatic finish to his semi-final.
Bingtao also fell behind early in his match, as opponent Mark Allen took a 2-1 lead.
But, the 2021 Masters champion made clearances of 116 and 53 as he built up a 4-2 lead.
It's an all-Chinese final! šØš³
ā World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) January 29, 2022
Yan Bingtao beats Mark Allen 6-4 and will meet Zhao Xintong in tomorrow's final #GermanMasters #BVEuroSeries pic.twitter.com/ZaVP5YqmZm
Allen managed to reduce the deficit with a century, but Bingtao took the eighth frame to move himself closer to victory.
Allen again clawed his way back into contention, and both made mistakes during a tense finale, but world No.15 Bingtao eventually claimed a 6-4 win.
The all-Chinese final will be played over two sessions on Sunday, January 30.