‘Best I have played since world title in 2022’ - Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Barry Hawkins in decider to reach Shanghai Masters 2025 quarter-final
Updated 30/07/2025 at 21:32 GMT+1
A sixth Shanghai Masters title is still on for Ronnie O'Sullivan, after he beat Barry Hawkins 6-5 in a tense last-16 match. O'Sullivan led 5-3 after a nervy start to the match, before Hawkins recovered to level at 5-5. In the deciding frame, The Rocket prevailed, setting up a last-eight contest against Kyren Wilson. Afterwards, he said it was the best he has played since his 2022 world title win.
Hawkins produces 'excellent' 106 break to force decider against O'Sullivan
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins in a tense match to progress to the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
Hawkins set up a dramatic finish when he hit the first century break of the match to force a deciding frame.
But O'Sullivan prevailed in the decider, winning 6-5 and setting up a last-eight clash with Kyren Wilson.
"I’m just pleased to have won the match. Barry played pretty good," O'Sullivan said, per The Sun.
"I played probably the best I have played for, maybe since I won the World Championship in 2022. That was a good performance. I could have lost it as well.
"The table played okay with the humidity. I don’t know how it will be on Thursday, Friday or Saturday but if it stays the same, it’s good.
"Usually it gets harder and harder as the week goes on. Who knows? If it stays like this, it’s okay."
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'Very risky to take this on' - Hawkins fails with plant
Video credit: TNT Sports
O'Sullivan, a five-time winner in Shanghai, started slowly in this repeat of the 2013 world final and lost the first frame to a break of 61 from Hawkins.
The 49-year-old quickly levelled things up with a classy 94 break, before Hawkins edged in front again with a break of 84 in the third.
In a topsy-turvy start to the match, O'Sullivan responded with another 94 break to make it 2-2.
The pattern continued as Hawkins took the fifth frame, and then O'Sullivan levelled once more.
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But at 3-3, the latter began to assert himself, going ahead for the first time after a break of 90. Not long later, he extended that lead to 5-3 with a break of 89.
Hawkins fought back, though, refusing to succumb to defeat. He hit a break of 88 to make it 5-4, and in the penultimate frame took advantage of a rare O'Sullivan miss - failing to pot a red to the middle pocket - with a superb 106 break.
But O'Sullivan held his nerve in the decider, compiling a break of 67 after Hawkins missed a red.
Carter completes comeback against Williams to reach last eight
Ali Carter battled back from 5-2 down to beat Mark Williams 6-5, finishing with a brilliant total clearance for victory.
Having looked almost down and out, Carter hit a run of 93, 78 and 87, before his match-winning total clearance of 132.
The Englishman will meet Xiao Guodong in the quarter-finals, after the Chinese star saw off John Higgins 6-4.
World champion Zhao Xintong beat Chris Wakelin 6-2, and will play Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals.
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