“Once I was 3-1 up I missed just a few pictures and he got here out to go 5-3 and I used to be simply considering I do not him to win really easy,” he instructed ITV.
“I used to be slightly fortunate within the final two frames and obtained away with a few misses.”
Zhao will now face world quantity Judd Trump within the final 4 of the 16-player invitational event, which is a non-ranking occasion.
The 28-year-old had earlier breezed via his opening match with a 4-0 win over Mark Allen.
Northern Eire’s Allen gained only a solitary level in 4 frames as Zhao made breaks of 60, 78 and 76 en path to victory.
Wilson had progressed after a 4-3 win over fellow Englishman Jack Lisowski in an in depth encounter.
Lisowski had fought again from 3-0 right down to degree the match, just for Wilson to peel off a break of 122 to clinch the success.