World No 1 snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on world No 2 Luca Brecel in an exciting Shanghai Masters final match-up today. Though no longer a ranking event, O’Sullivan and Brecel will lay it on the line in China for the prize of £210,000 in what is the first edition of this tournament since 2019.
O’Sullivan has won all of the last three finals, beating Judd Trump in 2017, Barry Hawkins in 2018 and Shaun Murphy in 2019. And he must defeat reigning world champion Brecel to claim a fourth successive triumph at this event.
The seven-time world champion last played the Belgian in the Snooker World Championship back in April, when Brecel won their quarter-final match 13-10. O’Sullivan does however have a 3-2 winning head-to-head record against Brecel, who said: “Playing Ronnie is going to be hard, he hasn’t lost here for seven years so it will be a big challenge.
“I think I am much more attacking than Ronnie, he is a bit more tactical than me. I think I’m more attacking than anyone. Ronnie’s shot selection is a bit different from mine and he refuses more than me. In the balls he is the best, so if I miss my chances he will win easily. If I play well then I have a chance to win.
“I always want to win. It doesn’t matter who I play. I think my goal was to get to the semis at least. Now I’m into the final I look at it differently. It is about playing well and entertaining more than winning. That has always been my mindset, even when I played Selby in the world final. I tried to entertain, play quick and play well. I will try the same tomorrow.”
Express Sport keeps you up to date with the latest score in the Shanghai Masters final below…
Good morning! It’s Shanghai Masters final day.
The first frame of Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Luca Brecel is underway in China. Like the semi-finals, today’s contest is a best of 19 frames match.
The first session started at 7am UK time with the second beginning at 12.30pm.
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