Six of the top eight seeds in the 2025 Shanghai Masters have made it through to the quarter-finals, which take place on Thursday in China.
It has already been an entertaining opening to the latest edition of the prestigious invitational, with scoring-friendly conditions leading to a huge number of century breaks being made.
With a star-quality lineup through to the last eight, there promises to be plenty more drama as the contenders chase the biggest title of the new season so far.
Let’s take a brief look at each quarter-final tie.
Judd Trump vs Mark Selby
Judd Trump began the defence of his Shanghai Masters crown in strong fashion, compiling a hat-trick of century breaks to see off old rival Neil Robertson in the last 16.
The world number one’s 6-2 scoreline was bettered by Selby, who didn’t lose a single frame in his whitewash destruction of Shaun Murphy.
Trump and Selby have clashed 40 times in the past in competitive play, with the former just about shading their overall head-to-head record.
When? Thursday, July 31st at 7am UTC+1 (BST)
Xiao Guodong vs Ali Carter
As the world number 17, Ali Carter wasn’t even supposed to be in this year’s Shanghai Masters field, but the Captain received a call-up on the back of Mark Allen’s withdrawal.
So far so good for the former champion, with two victories including a 6-5 defeat of Mark Williams seeing him through to the quarter-finals.
Hoping to prevent Carter from going any further will be Xiao Guodong, who finally enjoyed a victory over John Higgins after three reverses in big tournaments at the end of last season.
When? Thursday, July 31st at 7am UTC+1 (BST)
Kyren Wilson vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
English duo Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O’Sullivan both emerged from titanic tussles in the last 16 with deciding-frame successes.
Wilson compiled three tons to pip Si Jiahui while O’Sullivan’s first outing of the 2025/26 campaign ended with a 6-5 win against Barry Hawkins.
O’Sullivan has actually lost to Wilson the last five times they’ve crossed paths on the World Snooker Tour, although the Rocket does have the memory of his 2020 World Championship final glory over the same opponent.
When? Thursday, July 31st at 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Ding Junhui vs Zhao Xintong
Definitely one for the crowd to savour, old favourite Ding Junhui challenges China’s maiden Crucible champion Zhao Xintong in a humdinger tie.
After so many years as China’s leading player, it must have hurt Ding a little to see someone else finally break through and win the sport’s biggest title in Sheffield.
Ding boasts a 4-1 head-to-head record over Zhao, but the pair haven’t played each other since the 2019 China Championship.
When? Thursday, July 31st at 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Shanghai Masters draw
Round of 24 (bo11)
Neil Robertson 6-2 Pang Junxu
Shaun Murphy 6-0 Han Fuyuan
Xiao Guodong 6-3 Lei Peifan
Ali Carter 6-1 Qiu Lei
Si Jiahui 6-4 Wang Xinbo
Barry Hawkins 6-4 Wu Yize
Zhang Anda 6-5 Yuan Sijun
Chris Wakelin 6-3 Zhou Jinhao
Round of 16 (bo11)
Judd Trump 6-2 Neil Robertson
Mark Selby 6-0 Shaun Murphy
John Higgins 4-6 Xiao Guodong
Mark Williams 5-6 Ali Carter
Kyren Wilson 6-5 Si Jiahui
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Barry Hawkins
Ding Junhui 6-5 Zhang Anda
Zhao Xintong 6-2 Chris Wakelin
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Judd Trump vs Mark Selby
Thursday, July 31st – 7am
Xiao Guodong vs Ali Carter
Thursday, July 31st – 7am
Kyren Wilson vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
Thursday, July 31st – 12:30pm
Ding Junhui vs Zhao Xintong
Thursday, July 31st – 12:30pm
Semi-Finals (bo19)
Trump/Selby vs Xiao/Carter
Friday, August 1st – 7am and 12:30pm
Wilson/O’Sullivan vs Ding/Zhao
Saturday, August 1st – 7am and 12:30pm
Final (bo21)
TBC vs TBC
Sunday, August 2nd – 7am and 12:30pm
Featured photo credit: WST
