Shanghai Masters snooker final recap – Ronnie O'Sullivan beats world champion Luca Brecel in £210,000 title showdown

Incredible. Ronnie O'Sullivan wins his fourth consecutive Shanghai Masters with a thrilling 11-9 win over world champion Luca Brecel.

Ronnie sinks it! Second time of asking! He can't sink the pink though and Brecel needs a snooker. But that's surely that...

Stunning. Match ball. Tournament ball. Ronnie on the blue. Misses it.

Ronnie rolls the yellow up behind the black. A masterpiece of a snooker. Brecel hits the black first time giving Ronnie a big seven points. Another brilliant snooker follows and Brecel breaks out of it first time. Brilliant. We're 30 minutes deep into this frame now. O'Sullivan turns the screw with another snooker and Brecel breaks free once again. Is that it? He's left a gap. Ronnie sinks the yellow...

Brecel loses position on the yellow to groans from the crowd who want to see a decider. Whoever gets this yellow will be favourite for the frame, and in Ronnie's case the match. Ronnie starts by missing the yellow altogether before getting it safe.

It's such an awkward frame and Ronnie misses a red to green bag here to keep it going. The match has been a free flowing thriller so far but this is as tedious as it gets.

Brecel brings the crowd to life here with a magnificent red to right middle, but misses a long red.

Wow. Ronnie leaves a very red over bottom left and Brecel could, maybe should, win the frame from here.

Brecel is chasing this break and grinding his way through the frame. The table is poorly laid with the yellow, green, and pink all tied up next to reds and cushions. He finally loses position on the black and has to go safe. But that's tricky too. Wait, he goes for it! He tries black to right middle but misses it and leaves Ronnie with a long red that he sinks.

Brecel gifts four points to Ronnie as he misses an attempted safety. He gives it a second go and gets it right this time.

Brecel slips first here. He plays a blue very fast bottom right which rattles the jaws. Ronnie has his sights on a red here and sinks it.

A fine 83 to extend the match further. Are we heading for a decider?

Brecel needs a red and a colour here for 10-9. Ronnie won't like this one bit but Luca is pulling all the tricks out of the bag here to keep this match alive.

Brecel grabs the red and colour. That's frame.

Brecel slowing things down a touch here. He's plenty of reds to choose from and has position on the black too. He has to take full advantage here.

Ronnie has said that Luca is his favourite player to watch and that last frame shows you why. The Belgian just went for it, no messing about.

Remarkable. Brecel sinks a full length double on the black to stay alive in this tournament.

Incredible! O'Sullivan gets position on the pink but, trying to get the cue ball all the way back down to the table he hits it so hard the pink just rattles the jaws of the pocket.

Brecel cuts it in perfectly now...the crowd can't believe it. But he misses the black!

Now, Ronnie needs the black TWICE to win it. Once, then again on the respot.

Brecel hits and hopes on a red and somehow, somehow, gets enough cover behind the colours. Remarkable. O'Sullivan can't get it safe and Brecel sinks it. Now, can he get position on the yellow? It's not great. He goes for it anyway, it's so close. But the yellow bounces off the jaws and Ronnie sinks it himself. This is the chance.

A double kiss on a red makes for an awkward brown but its beautifully sunk and this red surely wins it. It's tricky to bottom left and....he misses it! Brecel clings on.

Brecel is playing so aggressively here with so little to lose but he just loses position on a colour after a solid stint at the table. Now, can Ronnie win it from here?

He ain0t go down with a fight. Luca reeled off three straight frames against Ronnie at the World Champs this year and could do it again today. He's playing without pressure here and hits half a century in no time at all.

O'Sullivan goes within one with a 120 break that was arguably better than the 143 before. The cue ball saw every inch of the table during that frame.

Nobody has beaten Ronnie in Shanghai since 2016. You can see why.

It's relentless from Ronnie. He gets a lucky fluke on a red to keep it going at 30, but then produces the most stunning brown, red, black combo you'll see this tournament. Moments later, he has frame ball. It's brilliant stuff and could be another century.

Ronnie started this session with some very dodgy form but he's playing at his absolute best right now. Stunning stuff as he cuts a tough black bottom right. He's racing to the finish line now.

There it is. 143 for Ronnie who is currently on the for 10k prize for highest break. Brilliant.

If O'Sullivan has his eyes on the highest break prize he could go top of the rankings here. There's potentially for 143 on the table. He needs black for century first and sinks it for his first of the final and seventh of the tournament.

And just like that, O'Sullivan looks on the verge of restoring his two-frame lead the Brecel worked so hard to reel in. Ronnie is not messing about and just marches imperiously around the table to a half century in no time at all.

O'Sullivan restores his lead and does so with a truly brilliant blue. It's thrilling stuff. Don't go anywhere.

Brecel sinks the thinnest of blacks to some big applause but then messes up the break on a routine red. HE had a massive chance there to lead O'Sullivan who will be relieved to get another look in here. He'll see this one off now, surely...

Ronnie breaks the bunch and the frame is at his mercy here. He does get a kick off the black here but recovers his position well with a red to left middle. Wow. It looked like he had this one wrapped up but a poor positional shot on thered forces him to go safe instead. Is there a twist ahead?

A battle of safeties ensues after a nervy start to the frame. Brecel sends a bemusing effort around the table to try and escape a Ronnie snooker, but he misses completely and leaves a red on too. Four points to O'Sullivan who sinks the same red Brecel missed.

What's happened to Ronnie here? He misses a routine black here and Brecel takes the gift and pockets an easy red.

Here we go again! Gasps from the crowd as Brecel almost pots the cue ball of break. Dramatic start.

Ronnie's seen enough, and from 6-4 down Brecel has levelled the match. We're in for an absolute treat here. Join us again after the mid-session interval.

Brecel on the verge of levelling the match here. He's not quite over the line though because the pink and the green are all tied up next to eachother. He absolutely thumps the yellow in to try and get position on the green. He overruns it though and will go for the snooker behind the pink now.

A litany of blunders in this one as O'Sullivan just grinds his way to a run of 26 before losing position on the red.

Brecel could stral this now.

Wow. I can safely say I would have potted this. Ronnie misses a red to right middle which he plays with a bit of right-hand side. He sits solemnly with his chalk after that one. Brecel grabs the red and a brown but the break ends there with no reds on.

Brecel bounces back again.

Luca runs the cue ball off four cushions all the way around the table for a perfect position on a red that he duly sinks. He's got this one in the bag now. A messy frame but a good one to win.

A Brecel breaks comes to an end at 15 but he does manage a snooker. O'Sullivan escapes it and rolls up to the bunch no problem. Brecel sends him back up the table. Safeties.

Ronnie plonks another red but misses the pink. Brecel has the chance to do some damage here but he scuppers himself behind a yellow. The green looks tough but it goes all the same. Can he break the bunch now? Yes, he's on a red but it's not easy. Misses it. Neither player able to get much control on his frame so far.

Ronnie sinks the white off a safety and apologises because Brecel would've been better of had the cue ball stayed in paly. Both players have missed two pretty easy long reds in this opening. O'Sullivan finally makes the breakthrough and restores parity with a green.

These two don't mess about. We've barely started and they've a frame apiece already. O'Sullivan restores his two-frame lead thanks to a Brecel error and puts together a run of 52 for good measure.

That right middle stifles Ronnie's efforts again and what looked like a frame-winning break comes to an end. Luca is back on the baize but prods a red an inch wide of the left middle to gasps the crowd and O'Sullivan wanders up once more.

Brecel pays a poor safety that gets far too much contact on a red. He leaves one over the pocket but gets lucky cover behind the blue. Not to bother, O'Sullivan just pots a much harder red on the other side of the table and returns to the easy one after a moment later.

A dramatic start here. Ronnie was on the verge of taking a crucial three-frame lead but Brecel has reeled him in and pegged him back. Brilliant composure.

Brecel is cleaning up here. He can win this frame by a couple of points.

He needs one more red to put this to bed and misses it to right middle! What does Brecel have in the tank? Can he turn this one around?

Blink and you'll miss it. Ronnie races around the table until a spot of dirt on the white forces a short break for a little clean. He's racing to another frame here. Rough start for Brecel.

Shakey start. Luca's denied by the same pocket and Ronnie is back. But Brecel split the bunch with that shot too and there's plenty of reds to choose from.

A long red and he's on the way. O'Sullivan sinks a couple of blacks to follow but prods at a red that rattles the bottom left and that's break over.

And we're off! Ronnie breaks.

It's here, the finale of the final. The greatest of all time and defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on world champion Luca Brecel in the final of the Shanghai Masters.

Ronnie has a 6-4 lead after a riveting first session, but Brecel arguably played the better snooker. They'll play until finish tonight, rain or snow.

The boys are back on the baize at 12:30.

O'Sullivan led 3-1 before Brecel reeled off three frames for a 4-3 lead. Ronnie steeled himself to win the next three in securing a 6-4 lead before they play to a finish from 12:30pm (BST). Brecel with breaks of 134, 75, 98 and 103, O'Sullivan rolling in 57 and 78, but the snooker GOAT showing all his matchplay skills to stay in front. Not all about the big breaks in snooker. First man to 11 frames will claim the £210,000 first prize. Should be quite a finish between the world champion and world No. 1.

Luca slots the yellow, but sees the white head down right centre pocket. Well, what a moment. O'Sullivan pots yellow to left middle. Wriggles in and he is heading for a 6-4 lead. In goes the final blue and pink. O'Sullivan holds a 6-4 lead. What an absorbing first session. We will be back at 12:30pm for the conclusion of this final.

Heading for a close finale to this final frame. Two reds tied up and Luca is on the slightly easier one. Which he nudges in with the rest. All very tense. Luca then miscues on the black trying to get back up the final red. No real damage done. Apart from to his cue tip. Great pot on final red from distance by Luca, but not on right angle on pink to land on yellow. Just the roll up behind pink.

O'Sullivan breaks down on 31 as a white ends up jumping down the top bag and red to right middle doesn't drop. Was a tough shot to take on and push the boat out. Chance then for Brecel to fight back.

This final has raced along. Nine frames down since they began playing at 7am this morning. Fascinating levels of play from both men. Luca has done the scoring, but finds himself trailing 5-4. And Ronnie picks out another wonderful long red. Brilliant. Chance then to crack on here.

A timely and marvellous break of 78 from O'Sullivan, who shows his class and concentration to regain the momentum in this final. He leads 5-4, but would dearly love to eke out the final frame of the sesh for a 6-4 lead heading for this evening in Shanghai.

Two more frames to be played of this first session. Brecel back doing his thing early on as a long red nestles in the pocket and he lands on the black. O'Sullivan breaks off, and could be sitting down here for a while. Brecel with another run of 29 before he is forced to run safe with white running as freely as Luca's cue action. Leaves O'Sullivan long red chance, but he can't convert this time. Luca then misses red to left middle, and Ronnie is suddenly in business here as a plant on reds to right middle drops.

No run to the line for Luca that time as tricky black fails to drop, but Ronnie then overhits a red down the rail. That is frustrating. "Didn't need to hit it that hard," says Irish professional Fergal O'Brien on comms. An important frame in this final, but Luca goes for another all-or-nothing long red. Doesn't drop. Looks good for O'Sullivan to stop the bleeding here to level at 4-4. And he is going to restore parity in this final. As he tucks away the final two reds and colours with a late cameo of 43.

Twice Ronnie has tried to open the pack of reds, and has twice landed on nothing. Pushes the boat out with long red to green bag. Doesn't drop and Luca is back at the baize with a chance to hit back here.

Well, O'Sullivan with a stunning long red from distance straight off the bat. Makes 22, but can't get the pack of reds open from the black and forced to run safe. Luca misses long red for once and Ronnie back at the table with chance to score. Would suggest he has to start throwing a few punches of his own here.

What can you say about this from the world champion? More brilliance from Brecel as 103 of his very best are racked up in next to no time at all. Staggering level of consistency when he gets moving. He leads for the first time in this final at 4-3. Three more frames of this sesh to play.

Luca is enjoying himself out there. Looks for all the world like Brecel is going to mop up to move 4-3 clear. Another O'Sullivan error is going to be heavily punished.

Ronnie can't sink a long red, and looks a bit rueful as he heads back to his seat. Poor miss by his standards. Early chance for Brecel again to start scoring a few points. Which he has been doing recently. And he is off on his merry way here.

So Luca putting these balls away like a hot knife through butter. That missed red with the rest is going to cost O'Sullivan the frame. Almost makes the century, but white follows the doubled black down a pocket. Magic from Brecel. A rollicking good 98 break from the Belgian Bullet. We are level at 3-3.

Ronnie failing to punish the Brecel errors in this frame, and could end up costing him it. Luca won't keep making blunders. Especially not from close range among the balls. Already up to 46 on this break.

Brecel with another poor safety shot at the outset of this sixth frame. White rifles back into the reds, and O'Sullivan will be content to accept such a gift. But he can only add one to the scoreboard. And then misses a red with the rest that he should have potted. Chance passes to Luca.

Off we go then for the sixth frame of the day. Halfway through his fascinating first session. Ronnie the more measured player in this final. That tells you how carefree Luca plays the game.

In goes a thumping cross double on a red to stay at the table, and this is going to be a one-visit kill for Luca here. A rapid knock of 75 sees him close the gap to 3-2 in this showpiece final. These men not messing about. They never do.

Brecel has a wonderful habit of being able to pull out a fine recovery pot when the mood takes him. Is really a remarkable habit. White not always under lock and key, but it doesn't always matter when Luca is potting balls.

Some nice early running for Luca as he flukes another red. Allowing him to gain the upper hand in the tactical battle. Slots a decent red into a top pocket and is right out among the balls. Another six frames to be played in his session so plenty of scope to be well involved in this fight heading for the second sesh.

Ronnie picking up the pieces at the right time to ease himself 3-1 ahead at the mid-session interval. Luca not taking enough care over a few safety shots, and pays the price. They head for the mid-session break.

Game has gone a little bit scrappy in this frame. Brecel throwing in a few poor safety shots and Ronnie has gained the upper hand here as he drills home the final red. Chance to scramble over the line for a 3-1 lead. In goes the green.

A few misses from both men that you don't expect. Ronnie with a tough pot on red with the rest, but can't drop it in. Wasn't easy. We're down to the final three reds with this fourth frame well in the balance.

Luca in prime position among the balls at the business end, but he misses black off the spot. Nudges red on way through, and Ronnie handed a reprieve in this fourth frame. Far from easy to win frame at this visit with reds loaded towards a side rail. And he misses red to right centre.

Fantastic spot of luck for Luca as he somehow sees a red disappear down a pocket off another red trying to play safe. Offers the hand in apology, but this is a chance to make a few points. Have to take the running when it comes along. But no more than 15 at that visit. Tuck in behind the brown brings him another chance seconds later as Ronnie can't get white safe.

Super knock of 57 from Ronnie, but can't dislodge those problem reds. So just the safety to follow. O'Sullivan then rams home another fantastic long red. In goes black before Ronnie touches the yellow playing a rest shot. But O'Sullivan is right on his long game as final red to green bag disappears moments later. O'Sullivan back in front at 2-1. Seeing the object ball at range as clear as a bell so far.

Ronnie with two thumping long pots on reds. That will make him feel good. Real test of the cue action, but he passes with flying colours. Two reds on side cushions to deal with, but obvious chance to get right back into this third frame.

Luca can't slot a red with the rest. O'Sullivan plays safe before Luca then mishits a safety shot after clipping the yellow as white drops down a hole. The referee has to replace these balls. Could take some time this one to get the balls back.

O'Sullivan can't slot a long red, and Brecel rolls in a red at top end of table before carting home a long trademark blue to yellow bag. Fearless potter when he is in full flow. Not hanging about out there so far.

What can you say about this? Just too good. In goes the century from Luca before he clears the colours for a total clearance of 134. Clipped that red into the right centre pocket with an audacious pot and clears the table. We are all level at 1-1. Battle is joined. You might say.

Golden chance of a century for Brecel in the second frame. What a start to this match. Rapid, quickfire stuff from both men among the balls.

Luca an expert at potting balls from all over the table. A very dangerous customer when he is in the mood. And he has been right at it in the second frame. That long cue action gives him so many options when he is making a break. This has been some response.

Luca with a marvellous cut on a red to right middle. What a shot that is. Very much in the mould of see pot, play pot. He isn't going to get bogged down in any tactical stuff today. That is for sure.

So O'Sullivan rolls in another 48 to go with the earlier 38 in putting the first frame to bed. Classic O'Sullivan. No messing about. Efficient and businesslike at the table when the chances came along. He leads this final 1-0.

Luca yet to really settle out there. Has chance of a long red to get back into the frame with hand on table, but butchers the pot. "Never a good feeling as a player when you do that," says Alan McManus, the 1994 Masters champion, in comms. We've all been there, Alan. Hitting across the white ball. But then again, we're not playing for 210 grand. Anyway, golden chance for Ronnie to get frame won.

Ronnie leaves Luca a long red to go at. Can't drop that in from distance. And O'Sullivan makes a rapid 38 before running out of position. Just lost the white at key moment, but not a bad little camero run to get the cue arm working early on.

A huge welcome for both players for this final. And rightly so. Ronnie gets us up and running. 10 frames to be played this morning, and 11 in the evening session. If they are needed. Could have an absolute classic on our hands.

Does not get any better than this on a snooker table. Hope you have the kettle boiled and ready for an epic morning cuppa. Snooker GOAT and world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan meets world champion Luca Brecel for the Shanghai Masters crown and a £210,000 winner's cheque at the elite 24-player invitational event.

O'Sullivan is chasing a record fifth title in Shanghai and a fourth straight title success against a player who won seven straight frames against him from 10-6 down in a famous 13-10 quarter-final win at the Crucible in April. Of course, that was a major step on Brecel's road to becoming Belgium's first world champion.

Should be a thrilling contest with the morning session of this best-of-21 frame final all set to break off before a packed crowd at 7am (BST) and the concluding session from 12:30am (BST). Boys on baize time imminent.

...to live coverage of the Shanghai Masters final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Luca Brecel.

- - -

Stream top snooker action, including the Shanghai Masters, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com