Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-ying remains on course for a third consecutive title at the All England Open ©Getty Images

Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-ying remains on course for a third consecutive title at the All England Open Badminton Championships after reaching the women's final at Arena Birmingham.

The Taiwanese player would become the first woman to win three in a row since China's Xie Xingfang did so between 2005 and 2007 if she is successful in tomorrow's final.

Tai, the top seed, knocked out fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan today and needed three games to do so.

The Asian Games champion came through 21-13, 10-21, 21-8 to advance.

She will meet China's third seed Chen Yufei in the final after she beat 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

Second seed Okuhara was well beaten as Chen prevailed 21-17, 21-11.

The men's final will be a battle between the last two world champions with a new name on the trophy guaranteed.

Top seed Kento Momota is chasing a first men's title ©Getty Images
Top seed Kento Momota is chasing a first men's title ©Getty Images

Japan's top seed and reigning world champion Kento Momota booked his place as he saw off Hong Kong's unseeded player Ng Ka Long 21-19, 21-11.

He will meet sixth seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, the 2017 world champion who ended the challenge of reigning All England winner Shi Yuqi of China.

Axelsen remains on course to become the first European winner since his compatriot Peter Gade in 1999 after his 22-20, 13-21, 21-9 win.

Both finals are tomorrow at the Badminton World Federation World Tour 1000 event, which is one of the most prestigious prizes in the sport.

Doubles events will also conclude at an event which was first held in 1899.