Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, and Shaun Murphy remain in contention for Shanghai Masters glory at the semi-finals stage in China.
The quarter-final lineup had a familiar theme with a foursome of England versus China encounters.
To the disappointment of the home crowd, each tie went the way of the former – the traditional powerhouse of the sport holding strong against the game’s younger major force.
Two more victories are required before the mega £210,000 champion’s cheque is handed out.
Let’s take a look at both intriguing Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
Shanghai Masters prize money
Champion: £210,000
Runner-up: £105,000
Semi-final: £70,000
Quarter-final: £35,000
Last 16: £17,500
Last 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 become one of the most entertaining rivalries of the modern era on Saturday.
Both five-time champions on the World Snooker Tour during a prolific 2023/24 campaign, a semi-final showdown is perhaps a slight step down from their usual duels against one another.
O’Sullivan and Trump have clashed in 13 finals over the years, with the latter clinching seven of those.
There was a period when Trump appeared to be grasping the upper hand from their head-to-head, but O’Sullivan has dominated again in recent times.
Indeed, the Rocket has emerged successfully from the last five meetings with one another – including in finals of the World Championship, the Champion of Champions, and last term’s World Grand Prix.
O’Sullivan also prevailed from their highest-profile fixture in this tournament, back in the 2017 final when the event was last attributed ranking status.
Since then, the 48 year-old has been unstoppable in Shanghai and remains on course to win the competition for a fifth time on the trot.
Trump, three times a losing Shanghai Masters finalist, would love to be the player to put an end that relentless streak.
The 34 year-old unquestionably possesses the required tools to upset O’Sullivan, but whether or not there are some mental scars from those recent defeats could also play a factor.
Mark Selby vs Shaun Murphy
Friday, 7am and 12:30pm UTC+1
Before that blockbuster battle, the first all-English encounter in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals will be played on Friday.
Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy have known each other since they were children, so their rivalry dates back several decades.
Their biggest encounter was undoubtedly the 2021 World Championship final when Selby came out on top as an 18-15 winner.
This will mark their ninth semi-final together, with Selby winning five of the previous eight.
Murphy, however, triumphed in their most recent last-four tie at last year’s Tour Championship – a match that was similarly played over the best of 19 frames.
On that occasion the Magician edged a thrilling affair 10-9, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this one go just as close.
Selby won the Shanghai Masters in 2011 while Murphy’s best showing was a run to the final in 2019 when he was denied the trophy by O’Sullivan.
Most will probably consider the duo as small outsiders for the title among the four left in the running.
But both Selby and Murphy have immense pedigree when it comes to landing major pieces of silverware.
2024 Shanghai Masters draw
Round 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
Round 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 times 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)
Final (bo21)
O’Sullivan/Trump vs Selby/Murphy
(July 21: 7am and 12:30pm)
Featured photo credit: WST
