Ding Junhui beat Xu Si 9-6 to set up a final against Chris Wakelin at the International Championships in Nanjing.

Xu had made breaks of 137 and 113 en route to a 5-3 lead at the end of the first session in which Ding’s highest break was a 119.

The three-time UK Championship winner took the first three frames of the night’s play against his Chinese compatriot to take a 6-5 lead before Xu leveled at 6-6.

In the final stretch, amid mounting tension, Ding took the next two frames, which included a feisty 66 on frame 14.

The 37-year-old, who has not won a ranking title since his triumph at the 2019 UK Championship, shot a 58 to secure the win and a place in the final.