Chen, the Rio 2016 gold medallist and sixth seed, won in three against South Korea's second seed Son Wan-ho at the Haixia Olympic Sports Center in Fuzhou.

The Chinese player kept alive his hopes of victory at his home Super Series event with a 21-17, 10-21, 21-7 success.

Victory in tomorrow's final would mean a fourth China Open title for Chen who triumphed at the prestigious event in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

The 28-year-old's clash with Axelsen is a repeat of the Rio 2016 semi-final won by Chen.

Axelsen, the 23-year-old who recovered to win Olympic bronze in the Brazilian city, could become the second Dane in a row to win in China following Jan Ø. Jørgensen's success last year.

He won the biggest title of his career with World Championship glory in Glasgow this year and the top seed beat Hong Kong's unseeded player Angus Ng 21-12, 21-17 today.

In the women's event, home Chinese hopes rest with qualifier Gao Fangjie who knocked out Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the last four.

The 19-year-old, a double mixed team gold medallist at World Junior Championship level, upset the fourth seed 21-19, 21-19 to reach the final.

She will play Akane Yamaguchi, the Japanese fifth seed who beat Thailand's eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon 21-14, 21-18.

Both finals will be played tomorrow when the doubles tournaments will also reach their conclusion.