China's Yan edged out in semifinals at snooker's Welsh Open

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China's snooker hopeful Yan Bingtao missed the chance to celebrate his 20th birthday in the Welsh Open final, as he was edged out by former world champion Shaun Murphy in Saturday's late semifinal.

Yan, who turns 20 on Sunday, wasted a 2-0 lead to trail 2-4, but then held the nerve to overtake his experienced opponent by winning the next three frames.

37-year-old Murphy kept calm to notch the following two frames, reaching the final with a score of 6-5. The world No. 10 hit his top break of 109 in the deciding frame.

"The match didn't go the way either of us wanted. You just have to play what is in front of you," said eight-time ranking event winner Murphy.

"When we started the game he was 19, not that I would say it was a long game, but he did have a birthday halfway through it! He is a phenomenal player and he is going to be around forever."

The Englishman noted that he would need to improve on Saturday's showing in order to emerge victorious in Sunday's final, where he will face compatriot Kyren Wilson.

"It is a good thing I have a decent trophy cabinet at home, because on that performance Kyren will be licking his lips. If he plays like he did today and I play like that there is only one winner. He has been on red-hot form in recent weeks."

"Relief is the overriding feeling. I am looking forward to getting some rest and coming back tomorrow."

Earlier, Wilson came from 5-1 down to defeat Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-5 in his semifinal match.

Wilson's run to the final included a win over China's top player and world No. 9 Ding Junhui, and he continued his winning streak by sweeping Australia's Neil Robertson 5-0 in Friday's quarterfinal.

Murphy ousted reigning world champion Judd Trump 5-3 in the quarterfinals. He and Wilson will contest the best of 17 frames in Sunday's final.

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