BEIJING - World No 1, defending champion Mark Selby and Barry Hawkins will meet at the final of 2018 World Snooker China Open after respectively defeating Kyren Wilson and Neil Robertson in the semifinals on Saturday night.

Selby was once leading by 5-1 in the afternoon before Wilson finished the first session 3-6. After each winning two more frames, Wilson stormed another three to tie 8-8. Under great pressure Selby had two breaks of 66 and 58 to head into the final.

"It wasn't an easy game even at 6-3, tonight I won two good frames after Kyren winning the first two, to keep my lead 8-5, but Kyren just played some fantastic snooker, " Selby said.

No champion has defended his title in the next year since the tournament moved to Beijing, according to Selby, that won't be a problem.

"I won't go into the match thinking of that, I am just going to feel real positive like the way I play this week, believe in myself, and I'll have a good chance to win if I play well, but also I know it's gonna be a tough game because Barry plays well as well."

Tied with Robertson by 3-3, Hawkins had a break of 124 and finished the afternoon session 5-4. He won five of the following seven frames to be the other finalist in Beijing.

"I think the game was of very high standard, I think we both played pretty well throughout the match. Absolutely delighted to beat somebody like Neil Robertson." Said Hawkins, he described his performance as "unbelievable" and hoped Chinese fans could like him more as this is the best performance he has in China.

The best-of-21 final will be played on Sunday and the prize money for the winner will be 225,000 pounds.