When does Ronnie O'Sullivan return to action as seven-time world snooker champion chases record title at Shanghai Masters?
Updated 07/07/2026 at 21:19 GMT+1
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Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to chase a record-extending sixth title at the prestigious Shanghai Masters this month, having been last victorious in China three years ago courtesy of an 11-9 win over Luca Brecel. The tournament is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max between July 27-August 2.
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O'Sullivan, seeded 13th at the tournament, is set to take on a wildcard at 12:30 UK time on Monday, July 27, with the winner due to face defending champion Kyren Wilson in the last 16.
Wilson overcame O'Sullivan 6-3 in the quarter-finals last year, then defeated Zhao Xintong 10-5 in the semi-finals and Ali Carter, who had replaced former Masters winner Mark Allen in the field, 11-9 in the final. Jack Lisowski replaces the Northern Irishman this time.
"I'm not really bothered about trophies," O'Sullivan told reporters after edging out 2023 world champion Brecel for the last of his five title wins.
"I've sold quite a few of them. I don't want any memorabilia left by the time I'm 70 or 80.
"I'm preparing for death – part of that is I don't want no snooker stuff – waistcoats, cues. It's all going to go."
Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan is due to face Jackson Page on Sunday, August 9, in his first taste of a ranking event at the China Open (August 8-16) in Taiyuan, a competition that returns to the circuit after a seven-year absence.
Neil Robertson is the defending champion in the chase for the ÂŁ250,000 first prize after his 11-4 win over Lisowski in the 2019 final.
He takes on the talented Chang Bingyu in his tournament opener.
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Wilson lets out huge roar after stealing frame to wrap up thrilling Shanghai Masters victory
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O'Sullivan, champion in Shanghai in 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023, has enjoyed a productive few months since losing 13-12 to old rival John Higgins in the last 16 of the World Championship in April.
The Essex player pocketed ÂŁ30,000 for winning the World Seniors with a 10-4 victory over Joe Perry and ÂŁ25,000 for defeating Brecel 10-5 in the final of the Snooker 900 Global Championship in Reading.
He also made his competitive debut in the Huacai Billiards World Open last month, a lucrative Heyball event (Chinese billiards) which was held at the Deqing International Conference Center.
He enjoyed wins over Ivan Kakovskiy (15-9) and Suung Kim (15-12) but found pool specialist Zheng Xiaohuai, a multiple Heyball champion, too strong in a 17-6 defeat at the last-32 stage of the lucrative ÂŁ1.2m tournament.
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O'Sullivan focused most of his playing time on events outside the UK last season, appearing only twice on home soil, at the UK Championship in York, where he lost 6-4 to Zhou Yuelong in the last 32, and the Crucible in Sheffield.
He also lost twice in major finals, 10-9 to Neil Robertson in the Saudi Arabia Masters and 10-7 to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh at the World Open.
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