Kyren Wilson wins world record equalling thriller at Shanghai Masters to reach quarter-finals

World number two Wilson was staring an opening match defeat in the prestigious invitational for a third consecutive year, but won the final two frames to set up a quarter-final meeting with either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Barry Hawkins.

The last 16 contest between Wilson and Si at the Luwan Gymnasium was one of the highest-quality best of 11 affairs you're ever likely to see. A break of at least 82 was made in all but one of the frames, and the other still had a half-century.

Former Crucible semi-finalist Si was playing his second match of the tournament having seen off amateur wildcard Wang Xinbo 6-4 on Monday. The 23-year-old began his latest assignment with breaks of 55 and 124 to establish a 2-0 lead before Wilson got on the board courtesy of a 120.

Chinese cueist Si bettered that effort with a 139 to go into the mid-session interval 3-1 up, but on resumption, 2024 World Champion Wilson registered runs of 82 and 114 to level at 3-3.

The scintillating scoring continued as Si produced a 95 in frame seven, but Wilson responded with another effort of 114 - his third ton of the tie - to restore parity again, at 4-4.

Not to be outdone, two-time ranking event finalist Si completed his century hat-trick in frame nine with a 127 to reach the hill first at 5-4 ahead.

Having suffered a 6-0 defeat to Zhou Yuelong in his first match at this event 12 months ago, Wilson dug deep to avoid another early exit from this £825,000 spectacular, crafting an 83 in frame ten to force a decider.

In the 11th and final frame, Si had a fantastic chance to score and perhaps win the match in one visit, but inexplicably failed to land on a open red when potting a blue ball.

Wilson subsequently dropped a red into a middle pocket and constructed a decisive contribution of 97 to get the 6-5 verdict. After being 2-0, 3-1, 4-3 and 5-4 down, it was the first time that 'The Warrior' had been in front during the encounter.

It is a bit of a pity that Wilson elected to smash (and miss) the final black on that 97 break in the deciding frame; had he potted it, it would have been the seventh century of the match and set a new record for a best of 11 on the professional snooker circuit.

The Shanghai Masters holds very fond memories for Wilson, as it was the event he made his big breakthrough in a decade ago.

In 2015 - when the competition was ranked and all professionals were eligible to enter it - a 23-year-old Wilson stunned planet snooker as the world number 54 when he pipped Judd Trump 10-9 in the final to claim his maiden top tier title.

One of snooker’s unlikeliest ranking event champions at the time, Wilson had to win three qualifying matches and then come through a wildcard round just to make the ‘main draw’ where he won five further matches.

Since then, Wilson’s best result in this event came in 2018 when he got to the semi-finals. However, off the back of a personal best season where he lifted four trophies whilst wearing the world crown, the Englishman will have his sights on celebrating his 10-year victory anniversary with another Shanghai success.

Please visit our 2025 Shanghai Masters tournament information page here for the draw, results, format, match schedule, how to watch details and prize money payouts.