2024 Shanghai Masters snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan defeats exciting teenage wildcard

Victory for O'Sullivan at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium sees the five-time winner of this title extend his winning streak in the event to an incredible 20 matches.

• 2024 Shanghai Masters: results, draw, schedule, format, prize money, how to watch

Teenager Zhou - who stunned Zhang Anda in round one on Monday - took the opening frame but O’Sullivan levelled with the help of an 85 break in frame two.

Frame three was an intriguing one; Zhou showcased his thrilling talent with several brilliant and attractive shots to get into a frame-winning position, however, he snookered himself on the final green, which ultimately allowed his opponent back to the table to win in one visit.

That missed opportunity for Zhou seemed to be a reference point as breaks of 78 and 85 either side of the mid-session interval aided 48-year-old O’Sullivan in going 4-1 up before efforts of 79 (frame six) and 60 (frame seven) contributed towards a comfortable passage through.

Seven-time World Champion O’Sullivan will play either Ding Junhui or Ali Carter in the quarter-finals on Wednesday (19:30 local Shanghai time, 12:30 British Summer Time).