Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a 6-3 defeat to China's Chang Bingyu in the Wuhan Open semi-finals, extending his wait for a ranking title to over two years. After trailing 2-0, O'Sullivan levelled at 2-2 before Chang seized control with breaks of 69 and 48 to secure his first victory over 'The Rocket'. The 24-year-old Chang acknowledged O'Sullivan's off-form performance but praised his own composure.

O'Sullivan, reflecting on his future, stated he remains committed to playing for the next 18 months but admitted frustration with recent displays. In the other semi-final, new world number one Zhao Xintong defeated Xiao Guodong 6-2, ending Xiao's bid for a third consecutive Wuhan title. Zhao, the 2025 world champion, recovered from 2-2 with two half-centuries and a closing break of 124.

Chang will face Zhao in Saturday's final, marking a significant breakthrough for the young Chinese player on home soil.