Shanghai Masters 2023 snooker – Luca Brecel beats Neil Robertson in semi-final battle, Ronnie O'Sullivan in final

There it is. Brecel grabs the green he needs as Robertson leaves it hanging over right bottom. Robertson needs a snooker now but Brecel sinks the brown back at the table anyway. And that is that.

The world champion will play Ronnie O'Sullivan tomorrow in the final. The top two ranked players. What more could you ask for? See you then.

Wow. Robertson is back at the table after Brecel misses a tough red. The Aussie sinsk the most brilliant long red you'll ever see, then misses a routine pink! Brecel is back here with an opportunity to put himself in the final. BUT HE MISSES THE YELLOW! He grabs the second prize...a snooker behind the brown. He's had so many chances to finish it.

Nervy stuff. Robertson is ploughing forward. Can he get the rid to green bag? No. Misses it. And there's a perfect red to right middle for Brecel too.

Brecel just needs this red to right middle but he misses it and leaves Robertson a very well laid table. This frame ain't over.

Brecel edging towards the final here...it's world class snooker. He just needs to find a gap between four reds and....he can't. But the green goes! And he sinks it again. There's another tough shot...red to right middle...no time to be a hero so he goes safe.

Brecel's first chance to win the match here is a gift from Robertson. The Aussie gets no cover on a red to right middle and Brecel sinks it before grabbing the brown. Another red goes and what a spoiler that is...he nudges a red just a touch and now he's no sight on the black. He goes for green instead. Sinks it.

A complete cage match. After ten minutes we're still all square. These two are not giving an inch.

Oh, maybe not. Robertson goes for glory with a tough black, misses it, and concedes the frame. Brecel just needs the one!

It's not nine! Brecel misses the red that would've put the frame beyond doubt. Robertson steps up, sinks a red, and here we go again...

Robertson keeps missing reds and getting away with it. Brecel is just one break away from putting this to bed but he just can't get a proper run on things. What a pot that is, he thinks about this one long and hard but runs the cue ball along the bottom cushion and sinks the red. The pink is on and he plonks that in too. Brilliant. 51 the lead, 51 on. He threads the needles between black and blue to get a red for what commentators are calling 'the greatest eight-break ever'. Perhaps a bit dramatic but it is very good. That should be nine for Brecel.

Brecel goes safe and Robertson nicks the blue to cede five more points. They spend a moment or two realigning the white behind the green as Robertson thinks he can see too much of the red this time. He has another go and this time nudges a red at the bottom cushion to warm applause.

Great stuff for the neutral. Robertson goes to try and cut the pink into right middle, and instead cuts a red into bottom right. Brecel is back on with four extra points. Can he see it out this time?

Robertson goes for the jugular with a difficult red to left middle, but he misses by miles and Brecel is back. He could see out the frame here. Nope, he misses his os red to right middle and adds only six to his tally. A costly miss.

Brecel bounces back with a brilliant long red and kicks off a decent break here. If he can break the bunch up then he could race to a ninth frame here but the Belgian has made a fair few mistakes this afternoon. He's taking nothing for granted. Ah, that's that, he gets nothing on the bunch and the cue ball buries its way in. He goes safe.

An exchange of centuries as Robertson weaves together a run of 109. This is tight.

Robertson sinks frame ball. Barring an absolute catastrophe he's back to within one frame of Brecel, and he could even land himself a century here.

Brecel fluffs a blue and Robertson wanders up to the table. He's level in no time at all, and is well stuck into the reds and black here.

Robertson has half a chance for a red to right middle but it's a big risk, if it gets this wrong, Brecel has plenty of options. And Robertson does get it wrong, rattling the jaws. Brecel sinks an easy red, and has lots to choose from here.

Big from Brecel with a whopping clearance of 123 to go two clear. He's two away from victory.

Better from Brecel who races into a solid lead before splitting the bunch. It's a great response from the Belgian after a disappointing afternoon so far. But can he finish the job here?

Brecel misses the reds entirely and Robertson responds with a long red before missing an easy blue. He's nudged the pack there too leaving Brecel with a red on. He sinks it and positions himself for the blue.

We're back! can Brecel rally here or do we have a mighty comeback on our hands?

A 61 break seals it. Robertson has won the mini session 3-1 and trails by just a frame at the mid-session interval.

Robertson has played his way right back into contention here. He gets a long red, splits the pack and, barring disaster should clean up here.

The Aussie takes his sweet time for a run of 10 but gets away with a missed red to bottom right as the cue ball rolls to safety. Or so he thought. Brecel sinks a delightful red to left middle, but that goes wrong too without a single colour on. He rolls up behind the blue.

Robertson looks full of purpose has a sinks a long red into the green bag. That's all there is to the break...still nice though.

Brecel misses the chance to snooker and Robertson wins the frame. The Belgian could have won all three of these, but he's only one to show for his efforts. Crucial frame coming up.

Robertson misses the blue! One snooker required from Brecel.

Robertson is punishing Brecel here. He wheels his way around the table. Red, black, red black. Until...he gives himself a problem. He needs the green and the brown to virtually win the frame, but needs a cannon on the former. He doesn't get it, and leaves himself with a tricky but gettable brown. Will he get it? Sinks it.

Brecel bows his head. He looked certain to take this frame but he's missed an easy red there and left Robertson with a wide open door back in.

It's all a bit cagey before Brecel earns the afternoon's first table tap of appreciation from Robertson. The Belgian splits the pack but somehow manages to also roll the red up behind the yellow, leaving nothing on. Robertson can't get safe himself and Brecel reaps the rewards of his own work by sinking a red, green, and on we go...

That's unlucky. Robertson pings the cue ball off three cushions and it plonks nicely into the green bag. Brecel gets a free four, and a chance at a long red. Sinks it.

It's a slow start to the 12th frame before Robertson gets on the scoreboard. He looks confident round the table but gets too much contact on the black which draws his break to a close at 14.

Brecel restores his three-frame lead with an 84 break and an exhibition brown to boot that has the crowd cheering.

A perfect red to bottom right from Brecel that draws gasps from the crowd. That's more like it from the Belgian, who grinds his way around the table with some narrow reds, with a beautifully serene black to bottom left too. This frame is Brecel's

Brecel pinches the pocket brilliantly on a straight red to set up the black, but that bottom left foils him again. Robertson misses a speculative double before Brecel misses a speculative red to right middle.

He leaves a red to middle left well on during a half-hearted safety effort and Brecel delicately downs it. But the Belgian has spoiled another break after catching a red full. There's nothing on, and he plays it safe. Nervy frame so far.

Robertson rolls the white up to the pack and Brecel can play off a touching ball. Robertson's next shot leaves a long red on and Brecel sinks it. In goes the blue now. MISSED IT. The next red dangles over the pocket but doesn't go. Robertson walks up.

Robertson cleans up. A terrific green to bottom right sets up a virtual frame ball on the brown. He pings it in and is perfect on the blue. World class snooker from the Aussie and the perfect way to bounce back after a disappointing morning.

WOW! Robertson goes for a long red, the red rattles the jaws, but the cue ball rolls straight in! Brecel is back, goes for the long red, misses, and Robertson sinks it himself. What a frame this is. Topsy turvy stuff. Robertson could clean up now!

There's life in this frame yet! Robertson reels off a break of 27 but with the final red tied up behind the black by the cushion there's an easy snooker on the cards. Brecel might have to go the scenic route here with plenty of traffic in his way...foul and a miss! Brecel knocks the black and hands Robertson seven points. This is bad news for the Belgian too, because Robertson can just snooker him again behind the black. The one cushion escape is on but Brecel rushes it, whacks the green, and hands Robertson another four points. He will get Brecel to take that one again...

My word, it's a world class safety from Brecel who nicks a red before the cue ball rolls back up the table and behind the yellow. Robertson is forced to put the cue ball back in the mixer but leaves no reds on for his opponent. Brecel sends us back up the table now. Up and down we go until Brecel leaves a red over bottom left. He's very unlucky not to get any cover there and Robertson takes the half chance, sinking the red.

Brecel lands his fourth half century of the day but that's that for the Belgian. The pink and the black are tied up now and he goes safe up the table off the yellow. Safety time...

Brecel spins the cue ball better than anyone else on the tour these days and he's strutting his stuff with some fabulous control today. The black is well off the spot and tied up behind a red on the cushion so Brecel is just racing around potting reds and pinks instead. Can he split the pack now? Yes he certainly can. He gets a great split anmd should win the frame from here.

Big opportunity for Brecel as Robertson makes a right mess of a red to bottom right. Brecel takes the gift and plonks in the first red of the session. A pink follows, and he could be off here.

A very warm welcome back to our live coverage of Luca Brecel vs Neil Robertson. Brecel holds a healthy 6-3 lead heading into the second session, and looks good money for it after a dominant morning.

The Belgian has never beaten Robertson before, but he's just four frames away from putting that stat behind him, with a place in the final against Ronnie O'Sullivan on the line too.

Stay with us right here for all the hype and highlights.

Can rain stop play in snooker? It almost halted the first session of this semi-final in Shanghai.

Magic from Robbo. Just when he needed it. Final red is another beauty. Long one down the side rail hits the mark to delight the Shanghai crowd. On the brink of the frame to trail 6-3. A 90 clearance is supreme from Robertson. He trails 6-3 at the end of the first session. They resume at 12:30pm (BST) with Brecel chasing four frames, and Neil seven. Still life in this semi-final yet.

Well, don't write off Robbo. What a long red he has picked out there. Appeared little danger, but he threaded that down the pocket. And is on the yellow to continue break. Vital he scores a few here.

A rapid 39 from Luca before he finishes his break by floating white up to baulk with a solid safety. Pressure on Robertson to find a response.

Robbo would dearly love to get this frame won and escape from this session still in the ball game at 6-3 behind. A 7-2 deficit is not what you want from any two-session contest. But especially against the world champion. Another safety blunder by Robertson gives Brecel first go at the balls in this ninth frame.

But no counter punch from the Aussie. Pink off spot is jawed, and the white lands perfectly on the red in baulk. Poor miss by Neil, and it is going to cost him the frame. Luca heading for a 6-2 lead in the race to 10.

And just when you were writing the obituary for Robbo in this frame, Luca misses black off the spot as the break reached 56. Gasps of astonishment among the crowd. Just took that for granted. Which is dangerous in snooker. Has a habit of haunting you.

A fantastic opening red from Luca to the green bag. Never touched the sides. And he is really starting to flow at this moment in time. Reds are wide open, and you would have to file this opportunity under the frame-winning variety. Could be moving 6-2 to the good in this semi-final. Robertson left to ponder squandering several scoring chances today.

Another surprising miss by Robertson down on the top cush. Tried to force home the red at pace, and the pocket doesn't take the ball. Looked like Robertson's frame, but it is Brecel's to lose now. And he won't be losing it. Mops up to the blue, and Robbo has seen enough. A 5-2 lead for Luca. Which ensures him a lead ahead of the second session this afternoon. Vital you suspect that Robbo takes out one of these remaining two frames to stay in touch.

Robbo with solid pots on a red and green, but white goes close to a side cush and he misses the red. Brecel immediately takes chance to splatter open pack of reds off the red, but he is back in his chair as a black off the spot fails to drop with the break abruptly halted. That is frustrating. Another lifeline for Neil to attempt to claw his way back to 4-3 behind.

A fabulous cut on a red to left middle by Luca. Played with check side to hold the white up for the green, and this is another chance for Brecel to get his cue arm working. Not that he needs any invitation. Robbo will be fearing the worst here, but Brecel then misses blue to right middle attempting to spin white around the angles to attack the pack. Only nine from the visit.

No century this time for the Belgian Bullet as he runs out of position attempting to land nicely on the yellow, but a break of 99 gets the job done every day of the week. Makes it look so easy. He restores his advantage to 4-2. Three more frames of this session to play.

Looks like this could be a vintage one-visit kill from Brecel, who is bringing back memories of his charge to the world title in May with this effort. Just flying out there after a brief period in the doldrums. Such natural ability among the balls.

A red pokes its nose out off the Robbo break-off shot, and Luca responds by teasing it home from distance with little fuss. This is a nice chance to reassert himself with black and reds freed up at the top end of the table.

A quality cameo run of 60 from Robbo to finalise that frame. He is back to 3-2 behind. This semi-final starting to bubble up nicely.

And you get the feeling Luca has missed a trick in this match. Had chance to lead 4-0, but Robertson has hit back in style since that 95 break in the fourth frame. Cans a mid-range red before tidying up the balls he needs. The Aussie is playing a lot better now.

So Luca inching ahead in the fifth frame, but not the greatest safety shot. And Robbo tucks away another trademark long red. What a fabulous long potter he is. But he is quickly out of position seconds later. And the sense of frustration continues for the Melburnian. Another safety on the way.

Robbo picks out a stunning pot on a green ball. What a piece of opportunism that is from the Aussie. The big crowd in Shanghai loved that effort. Is that the turning point in this match? And the answer is no as the black off the spot rattles the jaws and comes back out. What a bad miss that is.

Boys back on the baize then. Another five frames to play of this session. Which means the first session could be anywhere between 8-1 to Brecel or 6-3 to Robertson.

Even money it will be somewhere in between.

Pink stays out, but he settles on 95 to claim the fourth frame. He trails 3-1 at the mid-session interval. Robertson back in the ball game.

Excellent response. In goes frame ball red and the pink. Back to 3-1 behind. Much more like the level of scoring you associate with him.

Robbo gifted this chance by Luca, and is certainly looking more like himself as he struts towards the winning line in the fourth frame. Putting some decent combinations together in this break.

Luca first to the punch in this fourth frame. Rolls in a long red before landing nicely on the green to left middle. Tries to force the angle to pot green seconds later and come off one cushion to split the reds, but forgets about potting green. Reds in open. Huge chance for Neil here.

Eventually the concession comes as a swerve shot by Neil misses the green. Luca should have put that frame to bed a lot earlier, but missing a black on 68 added some angst he could have avoided. He leads 3-0 with one more frame to come before the mid-session interval.

Robertson gets two snookers so far as Luca misses yellow, but he drops in a long yellow seconds later to ease the tension. Lead of 35 with 25 left up.

This frame should be a done deal. Brecel leads by 37 with 27 left up. Robertson playing on to adapt to the conditions. As much as for snookers.

Two dour, languid opening frames, but a break of 68 should be enough for Brecel to see off another frame for a 3-0 lead. Neil chasing snookers to stay alive in the frame.

A real bounce in Brecel's step out there. Luca sensing his opponent is struggling, and this break is much more like it from the world champion as he carries the break beyond 50.

Robbo calls a foul on himself after missing a clip off the red. Not going his way so far out there. Doesn't look comfortable with his surroundings. Brecel suddenly among the balls at the business end of table. Chance to build up a healthy lead in the third frame.

First frame was brutal, but this second frame is one for the purists too. Luca doubles the pink, but is faced with a horrid long cut on the black. Length of table with white on baulk cushion. And he misses it. Neil then fails to sink mid-range black, and Luca cuts home black to right middle. Somehow Luca leads 2-0 with neither men finding any sort of form. A shake of the head from Luca as he heads for a comfort break. Conditions seem to be an issue out there.

A chance for Luca to get the second frame won, but he can't clip home a tricky brown to left centre. Robbo then misses the brown ball by miles. All very odd goings on in these two first frames. "Both frames have been strange," says Neal Foulds in the commentary box. Down to tactics on the final three balls with Neil just needing one of them.

Robertson picks out a stunning plant on two reds, but then misses a rolled in brown to the yellow pocket. All a bit of a struggle out there for both men. Robbo looking pensive in his chair.

This is a glorious chance for the world No. 6 to level up, but he runs out of position having made 27. Just a safety coming up. Think he is bemused by the reaction of the table when he potted the black. Frame back in the balance.

Two attacking players out there, but the balls are not helping this develop into a free-flowing match so far. Robbo then thumps home a long red and is out on the black. Chance to gain the upper hand in this second frame.

So Robbo runs to 19, but ends up planting a red off the blue going into the pack. That is never your friend, and the break ends before it really began.

Not a vintage first frame, but they all count. Early chance for Robertson to get moving in the right direction in this second frame with easy opener left to yellow pocket.

Luca produces a superb safety shot to stick green next to brown. Forces the error from Robertson who leaves both green and brown in open for Luca to snaffle up. From being in trouble, Luca has somehow hit back to claim this frame as he clears up green, brown, blue and pink. A 1-0 lead for the world champion.

Attempt to roll in green with rest eludes Luca holding a lead of nine points. Brown welded to the baulk cushion. Has been a war of attrition this opening frame. Brown is basically key to winning the frame.

Apparently some water coming from the roof. Hitting the table. Going to take a look at it after the frame. Perhaps air con is playing up. Who knows. Poor safety by Neil and Luca has chance to recover in this opening frame. Levels up heading for the colours.

Could there be a re-rack here? Not the most absurd outcome with those five reds forcing a stalemate, and blue near a top bag. Would suit Luca more than Neil, whose lead of 26 points is like money in the bank. But blue has been moved, and looks like we are back to a more conventional frame of play.

Luca with a corking pot on a long red, but just the blue to follow. Those reds are quite a tough obstacle to sort out at one visit. Another run back to baulk for the Belgian Bullet.

Two great blokes playing today. Always very sporting towards their respective opponents. Luca always happy to acknowledge good shots. Six reds now tied up along the top cushion. Which favours Robbo holding a lead of 32 points. Luca wants to get those balls out in the open at some point you would imagine.

Lovely shot by Neil to pot the pink close to a red. Blue and black are now joined together at the business end of the table. So trying to do his work here using reds and pinks. And eventually the break ends with a roll up behind a yellow. This frame not slipping quietly into the night. Or afternoon in Shanghai.

Both men just trying to settle into this match. Pink and black tied up so not going anywhere in a hurry in this opening frame. Until Luca has a dart at a long red with deep screw. Well off it. And chance for the Melbourne man to get hand on table.

Luca breaks down on 13 after Robbo catches a safety attempt too thin. Not an easy table to tackle and a red along the top cushion doesn't drop. Back to a few tactical shots.

Start as you mean to go on. Brecel punches home a long red to get his day up and running in Shanghai, but just the safety to follow.

These men have faced each other three times on tour with Robertson winning the lot. They last met at this stage of the 2019 China Open with the Aussie emerging a 10-7 winner by claiming the final three frames. But that will count for little when they confront each other for the first time in four years today.

And welcome back to another riveting day at the Shanghai Masters where we have world champion Luca Brecel facing Australian icon Neil Robertson for a place in Sunday's final against defending champion and snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan. World No. 1 O'Sullivan trailed Mark Selby 7-6 in a taut first semi-final on Friday, but produced a blistering comeback, finishing with two centuries to book his spot in a fourth straight final in Shanghai with a 10-7 triumph.

Who is going to join him today? Should be a terrific few hours ahead. Nine frames to be played this morning, and a possible 10 this afternoon. First man to 10 frames reaches the showpiece match. Grab a cuppa. Boys on the baize at 7am (BST).

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