Snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan has made a strong start to the new 2026-27 season, securing a comfortable 6-1 victory over Chinese amateur Liu Linhao in the opening round of the Shanghai Masters. The seven-time world champion, aged 50, demonstrated his enduring class with four breaks exceeding 50 points, setting up a highly anticipated last-16 clash against top seed and defending champion Kyren Wilson on Tuesday.
While O'Sullivan cruised through, it was a different story for fellow Englishman and four-time world champion Mark Selby. The world number nine experienced an early exit from the tournament, succumbing to a narrow 6-5 defeat against China's Zhou Yuelong. Zhou, currently ranked 22nd globally, mounted an impressive comeback from 5-4 down, clinching the final two frames with breaks of 83 and 107 respectively, much to the delight of the local crowd.
Other British players also featured in the opening day's action. Barry Hawkins successfully navigated his first-round match, defeating Lei Peifan 6-4 to secure his place in the last 16. Hawkins is now set to face world number one Judd Trump in what promises to be another compelling second-round encounter on Tuesday. Chris Wakelin also enjoyed a dominant performance, sweeping aside Hewen Tang with a convincing 6-0 victory.
The Shanghai Masters continues to be a significant event on the snooker calendar, drawing top talent from around the globe. The tournament offers an early indication of form for the upcoming season, with players vying for crucial ranking points and prize money. The early rounds have already produced a mix of expected victories and surprising upsets, setting the stage for an intriguing competition.
Looking ahead, the last 16 promises several high-profile matches. In addition to O'Sullivan's showdown with Wilson and Hawkins facing Trump, world number two Neil Robertson is scheduled to play Xiao Guodong. Mark Williams will also be in action against an opponent yet to be confirmed from the earlier rounds, as the tournament progresses towards its thrilling conclusion.