Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, and Shaun Murphy stay in competition for Shanghai Masters glory on the semi-finals stage in China.
The quarter-final lineup had a well-recognized theme with a foursome of England versus China encounters.
To the frustration of the house crowd, every tie went the way in which of the previous – the normal powerhouse of the game holding robust towards the sport’s youthful main power.
Two extra victories are required earlier than the mega £210,000 champion’s cheque is handed out.
Let’s check out each intriguing Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
Shanghai Masters prize cash
Champion: £210,000
Runner-up: £105,000
Semi-final: £70,000
Quarter-final: £35,000
Final 16: £17,500
Final 24: £10,000
Highest break: £10,000
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Judd Trump
Saturday, 7am and 12:30pm UTC+1
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump will renew what has grow to be one of the entertaining rivalries of the trendy period on Saturday.
Each five-time champions on the World Snooker Tour throughout a prolific 2023/24 marketing campaign, a semi-final showdown is probably a slight step down from their normal duels towards each other.
O’Sullivan and Trump have clashed in 13 finals over time, with the latter clinching seven of these.
There was a interval when Trump seemed to be greedy the higher hand from their head-to-head, however O’Sullivan has dominated once more in current instances.
Certainly, the Rocket has emerged efficiently from the final 5 conferences with each other – together with in finals of the World Championship, the Champion of Champions, and final time period’s World Grand Prix.
O’Sullivan additionally prevailed from their highest-profile fixture on this event, again within the 2017 remaining when the occasion was final attributed rating standing.
Since then, the 48 year-old has been unstoppable in Shanghai and stays on target to win the competitors for a fifth time on the trot.
Trump, 3 times a shedding Shanghai Masters finalist, would like to be the participant to place an finish that relentless streak.
The 34 year-old unquestionably possesses the required instruments to upset O’Sullivan, however whether or not or not there are some psychological scars from these current defeats might additionally play an element.
Mark Selby vs Shaun Murphy
Friday, 7am and 12:30pm UTC+1
Earlier than that blockbuster battle, the primary all-English encounter within the Shanghai Masters semi-finals will probably be performed on Friday.
Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy have identified one another since they have been youngsters, so their rivalry dates again a number of many years.
Their largest encounter was undoubtedly the 2021 World Championship remaining when Selby got here out on high as an 18-15 winner.
This may mark their ninth semi-final collectively, with Selby successful 5 of the earlier eight.
Murphy, nonetheless, triumphed of their most up-to-date last-four tie eventually yr’s Tour Championship – a match that was equally performed over the very best of 19 frames.
On that event the Magician edged an exciting affair 10-9, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see this one go simply as shut.
Selby received the Shanghai Masters in 2011 whereas Murphy’s finest exhibiting was a run to the ultimate in 2019 when he was denied the trophy by O’Sullivan.
Most will in all probability think about the duo as small outsiders for the title among the many 4 left within the working.
However each Selby and Murphy have immense pedigree in terms of touchdown main items of silverware.
2024 Shanghai Masters draw
Spherical 1 (bo11)
Zhang Anda 3-6 Zhou Jinhao
Ali Carter 6-0 Qiu Lei
Tom Ford 3-6 Si Jiahui
Mark Williams 6-3 Wang Xinbo
Gary Wilson 5-6 Pang Junxu
Jak Jones 2-6 Cao Jin
John Higgins 6-1 Lyu Haotian
Barry Hawkins 4-6 Zhou Yuelong
Spherical 2 (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-1 Zhou Jinhao
Ding Junhui 6-5 Ali Carter
Luca Brecel 2-6 Si Jiahui
Judd Trump 6-2 Mark Williams
Mark Allen 5-6 Pang Junxu
Mark Selby 6-1 Cao Jin
Shaun Murphy 6-3 John Higgins
Kyren Wilson 0-6 Zhou Yuelong
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Ding Junhui
Si Jiahui 2-6 Judd Trump
Pang Junxu 3-6 Mark Selby
Shaun Murphy 6-2 Zhou Yuelong
Semi-Finals (bo19)
All instances in UTC+1
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Judd Trump
(July 20: 7am and 12:30pm)
Mark Selby vs Shaun Murphy
(July 19: 7am and 12:30pm)
Ultimate (bo21)
O’Sullivan/Trump vs Selby/Murphy
(July 21: 7am and 12:30pm)
Featured photograph credit score: WST
