The 2025 Shanghai Masters is on the semi-finals stage because the preliminary group of 24 contenders has been whittled down to only 4 in China.
A pair of former champions bid to return to the ultimate within the first semi-final, whereas the 2 most up-to-date world champions will do battle within the second last-four conflict.
Performed throughout two classes and over the most effective of 19 frames, the longer format provides to the sense of status at what has grow to be one of many sport’s largest invitational occasions.
Let’s check out each semi-finals within the 2025 Shanghai Masters.
Mark Selby vs Ali Carter
Mark Selby and Ali Carter each tasted glory on this match below its earlier guise as a rating match.
The latter emerged with the trophy in his palms manner again in 2010 whereas Selby prevailed a 12 months later and in addition reached the ultimate in 2016.
It has already been a dramatic week for Carter, who has twice fought his manner again from the brink of defeat at 5-2 behind.
The Captain trailed each Mark Williams and Xiao Guodong by the identical three-frame margin earlier than mounting a late four-frame burst to pinch victories every time.
Selby, in the meantime, has appeared persistently robust and backed up his 6-0 drubbing of Shaun Murphy with a 6-4 defeat of reigning Shanghai Masters champion Judd Trump on Thursday.
The Jester defied a second three-ton show of the week from Trump to prematurely finish the world primary’s defence.
Selby and Carter have clashed greater than 40 instances on the World Snooker Tour with the previous boasting the superior head-to-head document.
In truth, the 42 year-old has crushed his fellow Englishman the final 5 instances they’ve crossed paths – together with a 6-1 triumph within the first spherical of the Masters this 12 months.
When is it? Friday, August 1st – 7am and 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Kyren Wilson vs Zhao Xintong
The Shanghai Masters semi-finals will proceed on Saturday with a mouthwatering match involving the final two Crucible champions.
New world champion Zhao Xintong has appeared in positive type as he launches his 2025/26 marketing campaign, comfortably overcoming each Chris Wakelin and Ding Junhui up to now.
Wilson’s terrific scoring efficiency towards Si Jiahui within the final 16 was backed up by a 6-3 success over Ronnie O’Sullivan within the quarter-finals.
Among the many remaining quartet, Zhao is the one participant who has by no means tasted victory on the Shanghai Masters.
Wilson received his maiden win on the primary tour on the 2015 Shanghai Masters when he memorably gained 9 matches to assert his first rating title.
The Kettering cueist has confronted Zhao on simply 4 events up to now and solely as soon as in a match longer than the most effective of 5 frames.
That was their very first encounter on the 2020 German Masters when Zhao edged Wilson with a 5-4 scoreline.
There may be each cause to imagine that this conflict might be equally as shut.
When is it? Saturday, August 2nd – 7am and 12:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Shanghai Masters draw
Spherical of 24 (bo11)
Neil Robertson 6-2 Pang Junxu
Shaun Murphy 6-0 Han Fuyuan
Xiao Guodong 6-3 Lei Peifan
Ali Carter 6-1 Qiu Lei
Si Jiahui 6-4 Wang Xinbo
Barry Hawkins 6-4 Wu Yize
Zhang Anda 6-5 Yuan Sijun
Chris Wakelin 6-3 Zhou Jinhao
Spherical of 16 (bo11)
Judd Trump 6-2 Neil Robertson
Mark Selby 6-0 Shaun Murphy
John Higgins 4-6 Xiao Guodong
Mark Williams 5-6 Ali Carter
Kyren Wilson 6-5 Si Jiahui
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Barry Hawkins
Ding Junhui 6-5 Zhang Anda
Zhao Xintong 6-2 Chris Wakelin
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Judd Trump 4-6 Mark Selby
Xiao Guodong 5-6 Ali Carter
Kyren Wilson 6-3 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ding Junhui 1-6 Zhao Xintong
Semi-Finals (bo19)
Mark Selby vs Ali Carter
Friday, August 1st – 7am and 12:30pm
Kyren Wilson vs Zhao Xintong
Saturday, August 1st – 7am and 12:30pm
Remaining (bo21)
Selby/Carter vs Wilson/Zhao
Sunday, August 2nd – 7am and 12:30pm
Instances in UTC+1 (BST)
Featured picture credit score: WST
