Zhao Xintong and Ronnie O'Sullivan win on competitive returns at Shanghai Masters

Newly-minted World Champion Zhao and record five-time Shanghai Masters Champion O’Sullivan both played during a blockbuster evening session at the Luwan Gymnasium.

Playing his debut match as the current ‘Crucible King’ - and on home soil in China - Zhao handled the pressure well as he defeated world number 16 Chris Wakelin 6-2 to advance in the £825,000 invitational event.

His first competitive outing since becoming China’s maiden world professional snooker champion at the start of May, it was also the first time that Zhao had played a professional match in Shanghai since 2014 when he reached the last 16 as a teenage wildcard.

A break of 68 helped the 28-year-old claim the opening frame before he doubled his advantage. Wakelin - who eliminated wildcard Zhou Jinhao 6-3 in round one on Monday - replied by taking the next two frames (66 break, frame three) to go into the mid-session interval level at 2-2.

However, on resumption, Zhao limited his opponent to just a further 37 points as he compiled efforts of 103, 65, 73 and 59 in a four-frame winning streak.

Next up for Zhao will be Ding Junhui in a colossal all-Chinese last eight clash pitching together the nation’s original snooker trailblazer, and its current history maker.

Over on the other table, seven-time World Champion O’Sullivan squeezed past Barry Hawkins 6-5 in a high-quality affair.

O’Sullivan’s last appearance was in Sheffield nearly three months ago when he bowed out in the semi-finals to eventual title winner Zhao. This calendar year has been a very frustrating one for the Englishman on the baize, with this latest trip to Shanghai representing only his third tournament engagement of 2025.

A 6-4 winner over Wu Yize in round one, Hawkins thrice led by a single frame in the first half of the match (breaks of 61, 84) but O’Sullivan (breaks of 94 twice) restored parity on each occasion before runs of 90 and 89 helped him go in front for the first time and then reach the hill at 5-3 up.

But back came four-time ranking event winner Hawkins with contributions of 88 and 106 to force a deciding frame.

Aiming to record back-to-back victories over his opponent following a memorable last 32 win at last season’s UK Championship, Hawkins was in early in the decider, but unexpectedly missed a red. O’Sullivan pounced and fully punished, crafting a match-winning 67 to tee up a quarter-final date with world number two Kyren Wilson on Thursday.

Mark Williams and John Higgins defeated in Shanghai last 16

O’Sullivan is the only member of the fabled ‘Class of 92’ left remaining in Shanghai as both Mark Williams and John Higgins exited the competition earlier in the day.

World number three Williams (124 break, frame five) was in firm control of his encounter with Ali Carter as he led 5-2 and by 39 points in frame eight.

However, when the recent world finalist failed to obtain position, Carter embarked on an incredible unanswered streak of 400 points, racking up breaks of 93, 78, 87 and 132 in the process to score a 6-5 comeback victory. The latter effort was the 2010 champion’s second century of the tie following a 131 in frame one.

On the other side of the divide during the afternoon session, Xiao Guodong constructed a hat-trick of tons - 104, 111, 113 - in a 6-4 win over Higgins. The result will be sweet for Xiao having lost to Higgins three times in recent months at the Players, Tour and World Championships.

Xiao will now face Carter in the last eight.

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.