The favourites continue to rule in Shanghai as Judd Trump begins title defence with victory

Trump is the reigning and defending champion in Shanghai this week having won the title for the first time in his career 12 months ago. Should the world number one retain and collect the £210,000 top prize this weekend, he would create history, as no first-time winner has successfully defended the title.

As one of the top eight seeds for this year’s competition, Trump entered the fray in round two (last 16), while Robertson had already played at the Luwan Gymnasium on Monday when he got the better of Pang Junxu, 6-2.

However, Trump acclimatised instantly, crafting breaks of 103 and 127 in the opening two frames for a 2-0 lead. Robertson got on the board with frame three, but the title holder registered runs of 64 and 68 in frames either side of the mid-session interval for a 4-1 advantage.

Current English Open and World Grand Prix champion Robertson fashioned an effort of 69 in frame six as he reduced his arrears to two. It appeared Robertson was going to make it 4-3 with a break of 65, but it wasn’t enough as Trump constructed a counter clearance of 68 to pinch the frame on the final black for 5-2.

And the Englishman finished in style with a 125 to set up a last eight meeting with Mark Selby on Thursday in the Far East.

Earlier in the day, in another clash between two of the sport’s all-time greats, Selby brushed aside Shaun Murphy 6-0 to extract some baize revenge having lost to his opponent in the semi-finals of this tournament last year.

Champion here in 2011, Selby was relentless as he racked up breaks of 66, 52, 115, 81, 73 and 137 during the whitewash. In total, he outscored Murphy 602-52.

Maximum 147 break for Zhang, clean sweep for the favourites again

A total of 12 matches have been played across the opening two days of the 2025 Shanghai Masters and the favourites for all 12 matches have emerged as the winner.

In Tuesday’s morning session, the remaining round one ties were completed and won by top 16 seeds Ali Carter and Xiao Guodong.

World number 17 Carter wasn’t initially meant to be in this event but received a call-up as first reserve due to Mark Allen withdrawing because of family/personal issues. The 2010 champion made light work of amateur wildcard Qiu Lei 6-1.

Carter compiled breaks of 116, 73, 51 and 80 on his way to building a 5-0 lead. Qui avoided a whitewash with the aid of a 55 in frame six, but six-time ranking event champion Carter got the job done in the next frame to set up a round two meeting with Mark Williams on Wednesday.

On the other table there was an all-Chinese affair between Xiao Guodong and Lei Peifan - two players who enjoyed their big breakthroughs last season when they collected their maiden ranking event crowns.

His first outing of the new term, Xiao took a 2-0 lead before cranking proceedings up a few notches with runs of 143 and 120 in successive frames for a 4-0 mid-session interval profit.

On resumption, Lei won three of the next four frames to get back into contention (72 break, frame five), but Xiao (64 break, frame seven) handled the situation and converted for a 6-3 win.

The last 16 began in the afternoon session with Kyren Wilson and Si Jiahui dishing up one of the greatest matches the Shanghai Masters has ever seen.

A world record-equalling six century breaks were produced - a trio from each player - but it was world number two Wilson who came out on top via a deciding frame. More on that match here.

The final result of the day to come in was the thriller between Ding Junhui and Zhang Anda; a compelling contest that went all the way to the colours in a deciding frame.

Two-time Shanghai Masters champion Ding was involved in his first engagement of the World Snooker Tour season. Having seen Zhang secure the opening frame with a 92, Ding responded with a four-frame winning streak and efforts of 107, 89 and 106 - the latter ton representing his 700th in professional competition.

But Zhang stopped that sequence, and how, with a maximum 147 break in frame six to make it 4-2. It is the fourth 147 of Zhang’s professional career, and the fourth in Shanghai Masters history.

Ding made it 5-2, but maximum man Zhang battled back, stringing together the next three frames - highlighted by breaks of 120 and 89 - to force a deciding frame.

It looked as if Zhang was going to complete a brilliant comeback win as he led by 37 points in frame 11, but Ding kept his cool with a clutch contribution of 68 to eventually get over the line. China’s original big-time snooker trailblazer will face Zhao Xintong in the quarters if the world champion can negotiate Chris Wakelin.

There are two sessions on Wednesday in the Far East as round two gets wrapped up.

Mark Williams and John Higgins - the world numbers three and four respectively - begin their title tilts in the afternoon (07:00BST) against Carter and Xiao.

Then there is a blockbuster evening session (12:30BST) as Zhao plays his debut match with the world crown against Wakelin, and on the other table is record five-time Shanghai Masters champion Ronnie O’Sullivan sharing the baize with Barry Hawkins.

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.