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O’Sullivan makes winning start to season in Shanghai
Ronnie O'Sullivan began his 2026-27 season with a routine victory in the opening round of the Shanghai Masters, beating Chinese amateur wildcard Liu Linhao 6-1. The seven-time world champion's win sets up a last-16 clash with top seed and defending champion Kyren Wilson, while the tournament also saw a shock exit for four-time world champion Mark Selby.
O'Sullivan, 50, made four breaks over 50 against the 18-year-old Liu. Selby, ranked world number nine, was beaten 6-5 by local favourite Zhou Yuelong, who recovered from 5-4 down with breaks of 83 and 107. Elsewhere, Barry Hawkins beat Lei Peifan 6-4 to set up a meeting with world number one Judd Trump, Chris Wakelin thrashed Hewen Tang 6-0, and Neil Robertson faces Xiao Guodong next.
In short
- O'Sullivan beat wildcard Liu Linhao 6-1 in Shanghai Masters opener
- Next faces defending champion Kyren Wilson in the last 16
- Mark Selby knocked out 6-5 by China's Zhou Yuelong
Explained simply
Ronnie O'Sullivan is snooker's most celebrated modern player and one of the sport's biggest draws. The 50-year-old has won the World Championship seven times and continues to be highly competitive despite competing against much younger rivals.
The Shanghai Masters is an important tournament held in China that brings together the sport's elite, including world number one Judd Trump and the defending champion. The event carries significant prize money and ranking points that factor into players' seasonal standings.
Early in the season, tournaments like this serve as important opportunities to establish form and build confidence ahead of the year's major championships. Strong performances at this stage can provide valuable momentum for the competitions to follow.
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