Shanghai Masters 2023 LIVE – Luca Brecel and Neil Robertson win after Ronnie O'Sullivan sets up Mark Selby semi-final

Updated 14/09/2023 at 14:49 GMT

Welcome to live coverage from the Shanghai Masters on a bumper day of snooker. Ronnie O'Sullivan meets fellow Class of '92 star John Higgins in the quarter-finals from 07:00 BST, while on the other table Mark Selby takes on Judd Trump. The winners will meet in the last four on Friday. Later, Neil Robertson and Luca Brecel are also in action. Stream the Shanghai Masters on Eurosport and discovery+.

Brecel makes incredible foul after missing all 10 reds - 'You couldn't make it up!'

Thanks for joining us

We will be back at 7am (BST) on Friday for the first session of Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Selby in their best-of-19 frame semi-final. Second session at 12:30pm. Brecel v Robertson at the same times on Saturday. Set to be a fascinating conclusion to the Shanghai Masters.

Shanghai Masters

Death, retirement, politics and 'numpties' – O'Sullivan quotes as snooker GOAT

20/09/2023 at 07:15

Brecel 5-3 Milkins (67-0)

In goes the red to the green pocket. Fine pot. That should be that. And that is that. Milkins offers the handshake. In no mood to play on. A 6-3 win for Luca Brecel, the world champion. Not vintage, but had more than enough in winning the final four frames for a 6-3 success.

Brecel 5-3 Milkins (59-0)

Milkins will rue the one that got away here, but Luca has managed to grind it out. Which all good champions do. Should be a fascinating semi-final with Neil Robertson on Saturday.

Brecel 5-3 Milkins (43-0)

Another couple of reds are brought into the open. Looks very promising at this point.

Brecel 5-3 Milkins (29-0)

Rob misses red to a right centre. Wasn't easy and Luca immediately crafts a thin cut on the object ball before teasing home the black on another fine angle. But a red to left centre stays up. Milkins again can't punish, and Luca returns to the table. Chance to get this match tied up.

Brecel 4-3 Milkins (69-4)

Luca doing what he needs to do. Holes red, knocks black safe and with that shot goes Bob's prospects of recovery. Luca one frame short of the winning line at 5-3.

Brecel 4-3 Milkins (62-4)

A break of 62 from the Belgian player, but doesn't put the frame to bed at that visit. Five reds left up so still some hope for Bob. Albeit a small one.

Brecel 4-3 Milkins (49-4)

Some brilliant potting by Brecel to remain at the table as a long-distance blue disappears down the green pocket before he slides home a red across the table to left centre. Realises the importance of this frame in the context of the match with Bob at risk of being cut adrift.

Brecel 4-3 Milkins (13-4)

Luca with a bit of a bounce in his step. Finds himself ahead without clicking into top gear. Bidding to secure a semi-final joust with Neil Robertson on Saturday. Black off its spot here. So not easy to get the job done at this visit in this frame.

Brecel 3-3 Milkins (54-11)

No blue to go with the penutimate red for Rob as it stays out, and he looks to Luca to concede. Brecel hits the front for the first time today. Can the Milkman knock himself back into shape? Easier said than done.

Brecel 3-3 Milkins (54-10)

Unless Rob can unearth a snooker here, he is going to fall 4-3 behind. Has to find some form quickly to change the momentum you suspect.

FAN 1-6 ROBERTSON

A 107 break to finish from Robbo and he is through to the last four on Saturday. To face the winner of this contest.

Brecel 3-3 Milkins (36-10)

No winning thrust from Luca, but a timely snooker fashions another chance. Bob escapes from snooker, but sticks up the red. Back in Brecel's hands as he bids to lead for the first time in this match.

Brecel 3-3 Milkins (8-10)

A quite stunning shot from Luca to nudge a red into right centre pocket off the red. Didn't look on after an extended safety bout, but that could be a frame-winner.

Brecel 3-3 Milkins (0-10)

All gone a bit scrappy since Bob opened with century break. Reaches 10 before black off the spot fails to drop. Not a vintage scrap, but remains fascinating.

Brecel 3-3 Milkins (0-0)

Winner of this is guaranteed £70,000 for reaching the semi-finals. £35,000 for making the last eight. A lot on the table, so to speak.

Brecel 2-3 Milkins (61-5)

Difficult to see where this match is heading as a red jumps down a centre pocket with neither player overly convincing. And Milkins has seen enough. 3-3. All on the line in this quarter-final.

Fan 1-4 Robertson

2010 world champion Neil Robertson holding a 4-1 advantage on the other table. Still looking for two more frames.

Brecel 2-3 Milkins (52-5)

Brecel yet to truly catch fire in this match as break ends on 48 before he misses a long red seconds later. But Milkins can't capitalise as a red sticks over green bag. What a chance then to level us up again at 3-3.

Brecel 2-3 Milkins (35-4)

Luca right in the middle of the balls here at the business end of the table. Starting to motor here with white ball under lock and key so far in this break.

Brecel 2-3 Milkins (4-4)

Milkins throws in a jabby effort in trying to hole a red along the top cushion. Bad miss by his standards. And Luca is out his chair like a Belgian Bullet.

Brecel 2-2 Milkins (25-64)

Well, not quite over the line here for Bob as a mid-range red eludes him. Luca playing on for snookers here on final red. Rob with a brilliant escape on red across the table. Superb escape from 'The Milkman' with pressure on. And he finally scrambles over the finishing line. A 3-2 lead for the Welsh Open champion.

Brecel 2-2 Milkins (8-42)

A knock of 42, but that is going to be it for this visit to the table. Bob then ends up firing a white down a hole from trying to run safe off a red. Worried about what his break was at 34 seemed to break his focus as he spoke to the referee. And he is back in his seat seconds later. Over to Luca.

Brecel 2-2 Milkins (0-13)

Another safety error by Luca presents Milkins with chance to get moving early doors in this fifth frame. Would dearly love to find a few pots to settle himself down.

Brecel 2-2 Milkins (0-0)

Players back out after the mid-session interval. Milkins forced to regroup after shipping two winnable frames before the break. Has to get that out of his mind.

A spot of luck for the Milkman

O'Sullivan reacts to win over Higgins

O'Sullivan says he's been 'awful for 18 months' after stirring comeback win over Higgins

Brecel 1-2 Milkins (68-32)

Smart little shot by Luca to move the brown and black away from each other in baulk. That more or less buries any chance of snookers, and Milkins taps the table to recognise such quality. Bob can't escape from a snooker seconds later, and it is 2-2 at the break. Luca will enjoy his cuppa.

Fan 0-4 Robertson

The Mebourne man wins the fourth frame by a point with a 33 clearance. Suddenly leads 4-0, and has one foot in the semi-finals. He needs two more frames for victory.

Brecel 1-2 Milkins (64-30)

51 break from Brecel before he plays a brilliant snooker after unluckily failing to get on the final two reds. Milkins hits the red, but leaves it and Luca takes out the two final reds and pink with ease to leave Milkins chasing two snookers on the colours. Looks like this match is heading 2-2.

Brecel 1-2 Milkins (18-30)

Sense of anxiety has come over 'The Milkman' out there. Not quite turned sour, but will feel like he has let an opportunity slip if this match goes 2-2 after the first four frames. Should be a least 3-1 to the good.

Brecel 1-2 Milkins (0-30)

Couple of wild shots by both men. Luca butchers a safety shot, but he leaves a tough red for Milkins, who can't keep the cue on its natural path in missing the red. Few rueful smiles by the players.

Brecel 1-2 Milkins (0-29)

Well, Bob is first to the punch in the fourth frame as he trickles a red down a right centre pocket. Doing his work in and around the black at the moment, but a poor positional shot attempting to open pack of reds signals end of break.

Brecel 0-2 Milkins (72-49)

A fabulous cameo clearance of 60 from Luca to take out his first frame of the day. Milkins so close to the winning line, but a bad miss on a mid-range red proves so costly. Brecel back to 2-1 behind with one more frame before the mid-session. This quarter-final match warming up nicely.

Brecel 0-2 Milkins (25-49)

Looked for all the world like 3-0, but Milkins jams a red into the pocket from mid-range. Huge chance for Luca to punish the Milkins miss as red to left centre disappears.

Brecel 0-2 Milkins (12-32)

Safety blunder by Brecel presents Bob with another scoring chance. Out with the swan neck rest seconds later to nudge a delightful red into a pocket. That is the sign of a man operating with a fair degree of confidence. And he isn't hanging about when he gets hand on table. Real chance here to move 3-0 ahead.

Brecel 0-2 Milkins (6-1)

Stunning long red by Milkins early in the third frame, but he can't make good on the red as a floated yellow across the table to a centre pocket stays up. Chance for Luca to get hand on the table.

Fan 0-2 Robertson

Robbo with runs of 77 and 62 for a 2-0 lead on the other main table in the showpiece arena in Shanghai.

Brecel 0-1 Milkins (34-80)

Luca chases down the frame to the final green, but can't come up with the snooker and Bob slots superb long green before adding brown, blue and a fabulous pink to put the frame to bed. What a start for the Gloucester man. He leads 2-0.

Brecel 0-1 Milkins (18-62)

Almost over the line then. Has been a very productive start to this session by Milkins. Luca yet to join the party, but that could quickly change. As a white disappears down a pocket.

Brecel 0-1 Milkins (6-51)

Bob with a quickfire 50 before another safety error by Brecel gives Milkins chance to tie up the second frame for a 2-0 lead. Looking very sharp, it must be said.

Brecel 0-1 Milkins (6-28)

Another great pot from Rob along top cushion on a tricky red to get moving again here. Looking supremely confident among the balls. Chance to chip away and build up a decent lead in this second frame of a possible 11.

Ronnie sends message to fans

A 6-5 win over John Hggins from 5-2 behind pleased the snooker GOAT.

Brecel 0-1 Milkins (6-0)

Luca trying to bring a few reds into the reckoning by holing a brown in baulk, but nothing doing there as he fails to land on the next red. Air of frustration for world champ.

Fan 0-1 Robertson

The Aussie playmaker made a break of 77 in the first frame, and is on a knock of 61 in the second frame. Danger signs for Fan.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (5-127)

A total clearance of 127 from the Milkman, who pockets the first frame of this quarter-final. The large crowd loving that piece of snooker paradise.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (5-100)

In goes the black and this is an opening ton for Bob. Brilliant start to the evening session in Shanghai.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (5-62)

Superb recovery pot on black to maintain the break. Again, forced to roll in a black off the side cushion, but made without any worries. Looks good for this first frame and could be a hefty break too.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (5-39)

Milkins moves quickly to 30. Floating these balls in with ease. Makes break-building look like second nature when he is in the mood.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (5-13)

Milkins picks out a stunning long red off the cushion to gain access to the table. That one didn't touch the sides. Superb from 'The Milkman' to deliver that corking pot.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (1-0)

1-1 in the career head-to-heads between these two attacking figures. Brecel with a 4-0 win at the 2015 Welsh Open and Bob running out a 5-3 winner in the last 16 of the German Masters in February.

Brecel 0-0 Milkins (0-0)

Brecel gets the action off and running in this quarter-final. First man to six frames will reach the semi-finals on Saturday. The winner of Robertson against Fan faces the winner of this match. Both semi-finals are the best-of-19 frame affairs.

Welcome back

World champion Luca Brecel is ready to take to the baize alongside Welsh Open winner Robert Milkins. Could be a rapid dust-up for a semi-final spot. Australian No. 1 Neil Robertson is up against former European Masters winner Fan Zhengyi. Ronnie O'Sullivan will face Mark Selby in the first semi-final tomorrow after he won the final four frames in an epic 6-5 win against John Higgins this morning.

O'Sullivan completes 'one of his best-ever wins' with 130 break in Shanghai

The remaining quarter-finals

We've got more Shanghai Masters action coming this afternoon as the remaining quarter finalists vie for a place in the last four. World champion Luca Brecel takes on Robert Milkins, while Neil Robertson faces Fan Zhengyi.

Selby-O'Sullivan rivalry to resume

After toppling Higgins, O'Sullivan will take on Selby in tomorrow's semi-finals in what promises to be another epic encounter. Selby won six frames in a row to down Trump in an unusually one-sided affair but he will face a sterner test if The Rocket starts as he finished today.

O'Sullivan 6-5 Higgins

Wow! Few players are capable of this kind of comeback. From absolutely nowhere, O'Sullivan has come up with the goods to win four frames on the bounce against one of the sport's toughest competitors. He finishes it off in style with a 130 break and remains on course for a fourth straight Shanghai Masters title.

O'Sullivan 5-5 Higgins (30-0)

Higgins has a chance on a long red but doesn't threaten the pocket, leaving O'Sullivan an equally difficult opportunity. However, such is the momentum of the match, the red doesn't touch the sides, much to the delight of those in attendance.

O'Sullivan 5-5 Higgins

His previous best was 45 but a break of 100 means it's three on the spin for Ronnie. We're going all the way!

O'Sullivan 4-5 Higgins (42-0)

From the break, O'Sullivan nails a great long red and is straight onto the black. The Rocket quickly puts points on the board and looks set to send us into a decider.

O'Sullivan 4-5 Higgins

O'Sullivan gets unlucky with an attempted cannon and has to play safe but pots a brilliant red when he returns to the table and goes on to seal the ninth frame. He has looked like a completely different player these last two frames. Game well and truly on now!

O'Sullivan 3-5 Higgins (35-27)

A good break comes to an end when Higgins runs out of position after an attempt to split the pack. A few shots later he lines up a long red and can't believe it stays out after rattling the jaws. It gives Ronnie the easiest of openers as he seeks to further reduce his deficit.

O'Sullivan 3-5 Higgins (13-1)

Another great long red gets Higgins on the board early but he doesn't land nicely on a colour. The next chance falls to O'Sullivan but it's not an easy one with both pink and black tied up. He misses a tricky blue up to the top corner and hands the initiative to his opponent.

O'Sullivan 3-5 Higgins

O'Sullivan pounces on a half chance on the final red, breaking up the green and brown in the process. He leaves a lengthy pink for the frame and pours it in to reduce his arrears. Game on?

O'Sullivan 2-5 Higgins (44-58)

An unfavourable split of the pack puts paid to Higgins' 147 hopes and he plays safe on 52. He is immediately gifted another chance but misses a long red that would have probably got him over the line. O'Sullivan has a lifeline and manages a 44 break before running out of position. Another tense safety exchange impending.

O'Sullivan 2-5 Higgins (0-48)

Higgins is immediately back in the balls with a brilliant long red. His lead is 48 thanks to six reds and six blacks. He couldn't, could he? It would be an ironically fitting end to a scrappy contest.

Winner to meet Selby

Whoever wins will face Selby in the semi-final after he recovered from losing the first frame to beat Judd Trump 6-1. What a performance!

O'Sullivan 2-5 Higgins

Higgins does what he does best, pinching the frame with a break of 74 to move within touching distance of the last four. It's a long way back from here for an out-of-sorts O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan 2-4 Higgins (45-13)

A kick halts O'Sullivan on 45, his highest break of the match so far. A brilliant cross-double from distance then gets Higgins on the board and among the balls. Everything is out in the open so no excuses not to win the frame at this visit.

O'Sullivan 2-4 Higgins (22-0)

A brilliant safety forces Higgins into a mistake but once again O'Sullivan can't take advantage. His miss leaves Higgins a chance but the Scotsman's attempt rattles the jaws and stays out, leaving O'Sullivan an easy opener. It's a tricky table so will take something special to win the frame from here.

Selby extends advantage

On table 2, Selby now leads Trump 5-1 courtesy of four 50-plus breaks. He's within one of a place in the semis.

O'Sullivan 2-4 Higgins

A 71 break gets Higgins within two of the finishing line. Can Ronnie respond? On current form it appears unlikely.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Higgins (32-44)

A half chance presents itself to Higgins but he fails to convert and pots the white. That gives Ronnie an opening but he gets nowhere near potting the red, leaving his opponent right among the balls.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Higgins (28-1)

O'Sullivan fails to make a sizeable contribution and a safety exchange ensues with the black hanging over the bottom-right corner pocket. Higgins picks off a stray red but we could be set for a long frame here.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Higgins (22-0)

It's O'Sullivan who once again pots a cracking opening red. Unfortunately, he doesn't land on a colour and has to play safe, but he does forge another chance with some aggressive safety. Again, things run awkward and he breaks down, and again he returns to the table to pot a good red. Can he make it count this time?

O'Sullivan 2-3 Higgins

Higgins makes O'Sullivan pay for his miss, making his second century of the match and fifth of the tournament. He's been by far the better player so far and deservedly leads once again.

O'Sullivan 2-2 Higgins (22-0)

We're back underway and it's O'Sullivan who has the first chance after slotting a nice opening red. He eases to 22 before missing a pretty simple red along the top cushion.

Selby leads Trump on table 2

On the other table, Selby has recovered from losing the opening frame to lead Trump 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

O'Sullivan 2-2 Higgins

Higgins creates an opening on the final red and looks set to pinch the frame. He needs only the blue and pink but misses the former with the rest. It turns into a real scrap, with both playing some exceptional safety. Higgins pots the blue but it's O'Sullivan who eventually gets over the line. That was a huge frame.

O'Sullivan 1-2 Higgins (60-43)

After a short safety battle, this time it's O'Sullivan that draws the error out of his opponent. He earns a free ball and moves further ahead in the frame before missing a black off the spot.

O'Sullivan 1-2 Higgins (46-43)

O'Sullivan gets a reprieve as Higgins misses a sitter of a red when he looked odds-on to go on and win he frame. Can he pounce? He might not be playing his best but Ronnie is still gliding round the table, reducing his arrears in double-quick time. He misses a cannon on two reds that are sitting awkwardly, which brings the break to an end with the frame evenly poised.

O'Sullivan 1-2 Higgins (8-27)

It's another careless miss from O'Sullivan after creating a great chance to make a frame-winning break. Fortunately, he doesn't leave Higgins anything easy, but the Scotsman does get his hand on the table a couple of shots later, nailing a trademark double as he looks to increase his advantage.

O'Sullivan 1-2 Higgins (1-6)

O'Sullivan pots a good mid-range red after earlier fouling on the pink but doesn't land on a colour, leaving him no option but to play safe. Cagey start to the final frame before the interval.

Table 2...

A mammoth frame three is still ongoing on the other table but Selby is in the ascendancy.

O'Sullivan 1-2 Higgins

The Wizard of Wishaw makes no mistake and moves 2-1 clear with the first century of the match. The 103 break is his 11th ton-plus break of the season already, but more importantly, it puts him ahead once again in this race to six frames.

O'Sullivan 1-1 Higgins (0-44)

A poor safety from O'Sullivan leaves Higgins a straightforward red to get going. The Scotsman controls it well to hold for the pink and races into a 44-point lead. He splits the pack off the black and opens a few more reds, putting the frame at his mercy.

Update from table 2

It's still 1-1 on the other table but Trump is 30 points ahead in frame three.

O'Sullivan 1-1 Higgins

O'Sullivan is back in the balls after potting a good long red, despite appearing unhappy with his tip and cue in general. It's far from vintage stuff but he manages to get over the line with a 44 break to make it 1-1.

O'Sullivan 0-1 Higgins (33-21)

Higgins pots a solid mid-range red to pounce on O'Sullivan's error and then splits the pack when he pots the black. However, in what is the early theme of this encounter, he runs out of position on 21 and plays a sloppy safety shot.

O'Sullivan 0-1 Higgins (33-0)

Higgins misses a long red, leaving O'Sullivan the simplest of openers. The pink and black are tied up, however, so he needs to rely on the blue before eventually clearing a path for the black. In doing so, he runs out of position and misses a tricky brown into the middle having done all the hard work.

On the other table

A break of 70 gave Judd Trump the first frame against Mark Selby but the Jester from Leicester has just levelled with a 70+ break of his own. No issues scoring for those two in the early stages.

O'Sullivan 0-1 Higgins

A loose safety from O'Sullivan leaves Higgins a half chance from distance on the final red and he makes no mistake before going on to clinch a scrappy first frame.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (30-58)

Higgins misses a straightforward pink, gifting O'Sullivan a second chance to accumulate some points. The Englishman then misses a red along the side cushion and we're now in the midst of a safety battle. Not the type of match O'Sullivan will want to get bogged down with against the game's master tactician.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (23-42)

The Rocket was looking comfortable at the table but breaks down on 23. Higgins cuts in a nice opener and has a great chance to open up a sizeable lead on what is a tricky table.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (8-15)

It's the Scotsman who is in first, pocketing a long red before laying a snooker and forging a chance to get among the balls. Having said that, he's just missed an attempted plant, allowing O'Sullivan to hit back immediately.

We're focusing on

We'll be bringing you all the action from the O'Sullivan and Higgins showdown, with updates from the other table scattered throughout.

Welcome...

...to a mouth-watering morning of snooker as Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on John Higgins and Mark Selby faces Judd Trump. Watch via the link at the top of the page, or on Eurosport 2 and discovery+, and stay across an unmissable session.

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Shanghai Masters