Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel will contest the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday, with the prestigious title in China on the line.
O’Sullivan is bidding for a fourth Shanghai Masters crown in a row and a fifth overall, while Brecel is on course to claim his first.
The mouthwatering clash pits the world numbers one and two against each other, arguably the sport’s greatest ever coming up against the reigning world champion.
Fans in Shanghai and those viewing at home couldn’t have dreamed up a more appetising title-deciding affair.
In the penultimate round, O’Sullivan shifted through the gears in lightning fashion to see off the challenge of old foe Mark Selby.
The Rocket was 7-6 behind when Selby missed a straightforward frame-ball pink in the 14th frame that completely turned the showdown on its head.
O’Sullivan produced a remarkable clearance under pressure and proceeded to then compile consecutive centuries to wrap up a famous 10-7 triumph.
In the second semi-final on Saturday, Brecel recorded the same scoreline in his hard-fought defeat of Neil Robertson.
Neither player was in peak form for the majority of the bout, but Brecel managed to use the buffer of an early 3-0 advantage to maintain control throughout.
O’Sullivan and Brecel will next face off in a rousing repeat of their World Championship quarter-final fixture in April.
On that occasion, the former led 10-6 only to sit and watch as the Belgian Bullet reeled off seven successive frames during the last session to win 13-10.
Brecel, of course, then went on to capture Crucible glory for the first time in his career, transforming his status within the game.
It will be fascinating to see how their latest showdown will unfold with a whopping £210,000 up for grabs for the winner of this Shanghai Masters final.
O’Sullivan boasts a superior head-to-head record overall, most recently beating Brecel 6-1 in the first round of the Masters in January.
Whether there will be scars from Sheffield or if the Englishman will use that reverse as motivation to enact a modicum of revenge is the ultimate question everyone is eager to find out.
Played over two sessions, the Shanghai Masters final is the best of 21 frames.
Live coverage will be available across Europe on discovery+ and Eurosport, while viewers in most other areas outside China can watch the action via a subscription on Matchroom.Live.
Shanghai Masters draw
Last 24 (bo11)
Ali Carter (11) 6-2 Dong Zihao
John Higgins (10) 6-0 Deng Haohui
Hossein Vafaei (16) 6-1 Gong Chenzhi
Jack Lisowski (13) 6-5 Zhou Yuelong
Gary Wilson (14) 2-6 Fan Zhengyi
Ding Junhui (15) 6-2 Si Jiahui
Robert Milkins (12) 6-1 Bai Yulu
Mark Williams (9) 6-1 Pang Junxu
Last 16 (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (1) 6-3 Ali Carter (11)
Kyren Wilson (8) 3-6 John Higgins (10)
Mark Selby (5) 6-5 Hossein Vafaei (16)
Judd Trump (4) 6-5 Jack Lisowski (13)
Mark Allen (3) 3-6 Fan Zhengyi
Neil Robertson (6) 6-5 Ding Junhui (15)
Shaun Murphy (7) 5-6 Robert Milkins (12)
Luca Brecel (2) 6-4 Mark Williams (9)
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (1) 6-5 John Higgins (10)
Mark Selby (5) 6-1 Judd Trump (4)
Fan Zhengyi 1-6 Neil Robertson (6)
Robert Milkins (12) 3-6 Luca Brecel (2)
Semi-Finals (bo19)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (1) 10-7 Mark Selby (5)
Neil Robertson (6) 7-10 Luca Brecel (2)
Final (bo21)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (1) 11-9 Luca Brecel (2)
Featured photo credit: WST
