Shanghai Masters 2026 recap as Wu Yize hammers Si Jiahui after John Higgins and Shaun Murphy win final-frame deciders
Updated 29/07/2026 at 16:00 GMT+1
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He may have had three months to enjoy the trappings of winning at the Crucible, but Wu Yize returned in typically devastating style to thrash Si Jiahui 6-2 and move into the last eight of the Shanghai Masters - along with the other top eight seeds.
O'Sullivan miss leaves red on the pocket - 'Does it turn up a fraction?'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wu started superbly, racing to a 3-0 lead, but lost focus in the middle part of the match, allowing his opponent back into proceedings.
The sense, though, was that he'd do whatever the match demanded he had to do to win, and once things became close, he exploded.
Three consecutive clearances, a 108, a 140 and a 140, hurled him over the line, and into a quarter-fial meeting with Shaun Murphy – the man he beat in a final-frame decider to become world champion.
Murphy, looking to put the agony of a final-frame World Championship final defeat behind him, dug deep to see off Zhou Yuelong to reach the quarter-finals thanks to a 6-5 victory.
With neither player at their best, the match was a scrappy one, featuring some good play and dreadful oversights - crucially at 4-3 when Zhou, having twice burgled frames with late clear-ups, missed a simple red when just a few balls away from going two up with three to play.
The Magician duly cleared, playing his way into form in the process, and from there, always looked the likelier winner, though he was pegged back from 5-4 to 5-5.
In the end, though, one error too many from Zhou allowed him the chance to make the match safe. He never looked like spurning it in booking a last-eight encounter against Wu Yize, his Crucible nemesis, or Si Jiahui.
This live blog covered frame-by-frame action from Wu v Si and Murphy v Zhou below, with full scores across all matches available on the TNT Sports scores page.
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Wu caps victory over Si with century and one-handed flourish - 'A world champion's finish'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wu Yize beats Si Jiahui 6-2
A 108, a 140 and another 140, the final black played one-handed. Wu Yize is a superstar.
Wu 5-2 Si (91-0)
Wu secures the match, and this is going to be a third century in a row.
Wu 5-2 Si (54-0)
The present and future of snooker has been on display in this session, Wu and Zhao showcasing their ludicrous brilliance; theirs will surely become a rivalry for the ages.
Wu 5-2 Si (46-0)
Off the black and into the pack, the split is good enough, and this coiuld well be curtains.
Wu 5-2 Si (30-0)
A containing safety for Si, but has he left a tight cut to middle? He has you know, Wu sees it away and races to 30; he'll have to address the pack at some point, but this is a chance to seize f&m at this visit.
Wu 5-2 Si
A total clearance of 140, to follow a 108, and just after Si felt himself getting close, he's as far away as he's ever been,
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Watch: World champion Wu sinks 'excellent' century clearance to further lead
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wu 4-2 Si (85-0)
I can't think of many players I've seen who blend blazing long pots with tight cue-ball control, but Wu is one. Previously, he's struggled with nerves, but conjuring an 80 to win a final-frame world final decider will presumably help him in that aspect, and this will surely be a second straight century.
Wu 4-2 Si (46-0)
He manages five, but position takes him to the blue, then it's back to the black, frame disappearing quickly – as noise from the other table tells us Zhao has dispatched Ding.
Wu 4-2 Si (9-0)
Attacking safety from Si, opening reds, problem being he leaves a starter which Wu clips into right corner and, with reds all over the show, there are many red-blacks to get him going, after which, who knows?
On table two
Zhao Xintong 5-2 Ding Junhui
Wu 4-2 Si
A run of 108 and Wu is back, ominous for Si; you sense he'll play however well he needs to to gert this done.
Wu 3-2 Si (44-24)
This is much beter from Wu, exorcising the sitter he missed that cost him the previous frame. In a few shots, his two-frame lead will have been restored.
Wu 3-2 Si (26-24)
...but then he lands stuck to the final red and can't force it into the green bag. Meantime,Wu gets in, picks off loose reds, and things begin opening out.
Wu 3-2 Si (0-24)
A poor shot from Wu allows Si an opportunity, but just as he's looking comfy, he goes into the pack and remains within it. It takes him a while to absorb the bad tidings, then he plays safe while, on the other table, Ding has potted 11 red-blacks...
On table two
Zhao Xintong 5-1 Ding Junhui
Wu 3-2 Si
With Wu off the boil a little, Si has a chance – but can he find the consistency he'll need to seriously test the world champ?
Wu 3-1 Si (30-50)
Gosh, out of nowhere, Wu botches a sitter to left corner, and that will surely cost him the frame. It looked improbable not long ago, but Si is making a match out of this.
Wu 3-1 Si (0-43)
Into the bunch Si goes, but when he somewhat unluckily runs out of position, a frustrated shot leaves a chance with almost everything open. Wu is 43 points behind, but I'd now have him as favourite for this frame.
Wu 3-1 Si (0-14)
Wu inadvertently leaves a cut-back to right corner which Si gratefully accepts, a decent mid-range yellow keeps him at the table, and he then goes around the angles off the blue for a red which brings him on to the black.
We go again...
On table two
Zhao Xintong 4-0 Ding Junhui
Wu 3-1 Si
Si is into the match, but must, you feel, win the frame after the interval too.
Wu 3-0 Si (29-51)
Si forges in front and really should get himself on the board. Let's be real, I can'rt see a way he wins this match, but even the longest journey starts with a single step.
Wu 3-0 Si (29-13)
Oh, but rolling a pink a long way and dead weight to the green bag, he undercuts, and Si must surely accept the proffered opportunity if he's to make a match of this.
Wu 3-0 Si (23-7)
Wu clips from centre to corner, but not on a colour, he plays safe, and it's Si who's left the next chance. So he looks to get into the pack off the blue, missing all of it and going in-off. He doesn't leave anything, but looking to roll up to the pack next go, he very much does, so Wu gets away, splattering the pack, and this is another chance to score. Four-nil looks almost certain.
On table two
Zhao Xintong 3-0 Ding Junhui
Wu 3-0 Si
It takes a while, Si slotting blue, but then Wu sees away the pink and if he wins the next too, this match'll feel almost over.
Wu 2-0 Si (52-32)
Si gets away with a wild double attempt, then flukes a snooker, Wu's escape leaving him the final red to middle. He plays a cannon, which liberates colours, but can't drain the brown, and whe he offers a long one ... Wu clicks it home beautifully. But he lands stuck to the blue, meaning though the lead is 20 with 18 left, the frame isn't yet over.
Wu 2-0 Si (48-23)
But again, rather than take on a brute, Wu plays safe off the brown with one red left, Si leaves him an immediate shot at it ... but he can't drop it into left-centre and on we go.
Wu 2-0 Si (40-23)
But at this visit, he runs out of position, opting not to chase and playing safe. So Wu guides a fine starter into right corner, problem being the three remaining reds are near black cush, and he can't drain the first of them a tricky cut-back to corner, and this looks a lot like 3-0.
Wu 2-0 Si (5-17)
A poor shot fro Wu leaves nothing easy, but Si strikes the white nicely to get away, adding the brown, but a missed black to left corner allows a chance, and already, this feels like a crucial visit. If the wotld champ goes three-up he'll be every hard to stop.
Wu 2-0 Si (0-10)
Wu looks at a three-ball plant and smokes it home, but landing hampered and with no easy colour, it's a safety off the green.
Wu 2-0 Si (0-10)
Si misses to left corner but gets another go to the green bag and pots, then crashes blue to middle, opeing the pack in the process. But he's on nowt, so it's a safety, three reds now on black cush.
On table two
Zhao Xintong 1-0 Ding Junhui
Wu 2-0 Si
Already, Wu looks in total control of the match and of himself.
Wu 1-0 Si (71-0)
Running out of position, Si plays safe, 65 ahead with 67 left and, offered an immediate opportunity to secure the frame, the world champion does exactly that.
Wu 1-0 Si (51-0)
Confidence palpable, Wu accumulates, and Si will have to go some to win this.
Wu 1-0 Si (18-0)
Wu lands a starter but no more; no matter. He cues beautifully to see away another, dead straight, his action almost perfect, and ths is another chance to score.
On table two
Zhao Xintong 0-0 Ding Junhui
Wu 1-0 Si
Wu looks pretty nifty, doesn't he?
Wu 0-0 Si (68-23)
Looking to bring a red off the side from the black, Si misses the pot – how often do we see that? – and from here, Wu will secure the advantage.
Wu 0-0 Si (60-9)
Cut-back black to corner ... caught too thinly, and with 73 points left, Si has a chance to steal, quickly opening what remains of the cluster.
Wu 0-0 Si (51-0)
Wu is rushing through this frame, bumps pack off black, and the world champion is looking very, very sharp.
Wu 0-0 Si (13-0)
I'm not sure we'll be seeing much safety-play here, Si missing a long starter and Wu getting away to cheers. I've absolutely loved him since the very first time I saw him play however many years ago, and I must say I didn't think he was ready to win the worlds this year, but delighted to be proved wrong. He's looking good so far.
We go again...
Shaun Murphy beats Zhou Yuelong 6-5
Shaun gets his season going, just, and will face Wu Yize, his world final nemesis, or Si Jiahui next.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (70-14)
Shaun makes the match safe, Zhou just not able to play well enough at the crucial moments.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (55-14)
Zhou will rue the missed red that took him close to 5-3, and since then, he's looked the likelier winer.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (39-14)
Shaun knows this is maximum concentration time, and he methodically removes balls, the match now at his mercy. He's not played well today, but he's been good under pressure, and I'd be surprised if he lets this slip.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (20-14)
Gosh, a dreadful safety from Zhou leaves a red over right corner, Shaun duly bags it, and if this is what brings the end, I guess it's reflective of the error-strewn match we've enjoyed. This is chance to build a healthy lead – at the very least.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (13-14)
John Higgins has booked a quarter-final blockbuster with Judd Trump, seeing off Jack Lisowski in a decider, but in our match, things are more complicated, the players working to keep everything safe until an error offers them an opportunity. And here's one for Shaun, looking to send a ball long to the yellow bag ... and nailing a beauty. Can he parlay it into something more? Well, slot a second red, and he's right in among it, but a gentle cannon from blue to pack ruins the chance, and I'm really not sure what he was thinking there.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (1-14)
We're tipping and tapping about, various reds in baulk, as our players seek to cover the one over the yellow bag, but then Shaun reckons he can force another into it, sending it down via double kiss. He's not, though, on a colour, so it's in behind the black, with Zhou seeking a route to hit while leaving everything safe; he plays the shot well enough.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (0-14)
Shaun foil-misses with two thin contacts, so ther ref issues a warning, then Zhou tries sending one long to the yellow bag ... leaving it on the edge. That takes us into prime re-rack territory, but El Mago then opens the cluster while tucking in behind the black, the escape good enough.
Murphy 5-5 Zhou (0-6)
Is Zhou going to attack a longun to the green bag? I think he is, and he strokes home a beauty, but when he seeks to break the pack, he lands on nowt.
On table two
John Higgins 5-5 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 5-5 Zhou
It's been streaky and scrappy, but we're going all the way.
Murphy 5-4 Zhou (32-55)
Shaun bins the final red but doesn't land on a colour, then a decent safety allows zhou a fgo at at the yellow, which he'll force in off the pink, widening the pocket. A nice cannon develops green too, and we're a pot away from a decider
Murphy 5-4 Zhou (32-53)
Gah, my page crashes, but Zhou plays an iffy positional shot, seeks redemption by way of red powered into left corner ... then hauls the white back into right-middle. I'm afraid these oversights happen too often for me just to say oh bad luck, old sport, but as he looks to secure frame and match, he directs a ball into the far jaw of middle, offering Zhou a chance to clear. But off a poor black, he leaves himself the final red down the rail, accessible only with the rest ... and can't force it home, so the chase is on.
Murphy 5-4 Zhou (0-38)
And there's that miss, a pink to middle, but has he left anything? He has not, so Shaun plays safe, plenty of reds in potable positions. Zhou then gets in and out, but when El Mago butchers a ball to corner, he leaves a chance that should mean he faces a decider.
Murphy 5-4 Zhou (0-16)
Shaun leaves a snick to middle and Zhou sees it away, but knows, as he looks to open out the table, that any miss might mean curtains. But before he even can, he runs out of position, partially redeeming his situation with a decent safety. So, left without viable response, Shaun takes on a pot to left corner, it's rolling in ... and stops on the lip. What can Zhou make of a second opportunity to weigh in?
On table two
John Higgins 5-4 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 5-4 Zhou
Shaun hits the front, and will take some catching from here.
Murphy 4-4 Zhou (62-14)
Not that long ago, Zhou was at the table about to sink a simple red to take him to the cusp of 5-3, and, er, um. He's soon to go one down with two to play, and should he lose here, that'll be the shot he most regrets.
Murphy 4-4 Zhou (47-14)
But you can only chase for so long and a third evil one, to right-centre, doesn't get that close, and from here, Shaun should close out.
Murphy 4-4 Zhou (38-14)
Zhou escapes a snooker behind the black, then addresses a starter to middle knowing if he misses, he's done for in the frame ... and he slips home nicely. A pink to the same bag follows, also seen away well, and this is now an opportunity to push in front – not something that seemed likely five minutes ago. Zhou did, though, make two fine clearance to beat Mark Selby in the last round, so he should fancy himself.
Murphy 4-4 Zhou (38-0)
Shaun looks really loose now, and Zhou will be fearing the worst. But as I type, he runs out of position, so plays safe – though it feels that momentum in this match has switched inexorably.
Murphy 4-4 Zhou (9-0)
Oh Zhou. I'm afraid he's running out of form – not for the first time – missing one with the rest to left corner, and again, you fear that'll cost him, all the more so as Shaun seemed to play himself into form while stealing that last frame.
On table two
John Higgins 4-3 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 4-4 Zhou
Zhou gets what he deserves, Shaun growing as the match reaches its denouement.
Murphy 3-4 Zhou (54-49)
There's a red on the side which might save Zhou, but the one he missed really was a dolly; it deserves to cost him the frame and when Shaun gets in behind that difficult one, it's no surprise to see him slot it. Elite players don't let oversights of such profound carelessness go unpunished, and what should be 5-3 is going to be 4-4.
Murphy 3-4 Zhou (14-49)
Gosh! Out of nowhere, Zhou jiggers a simple red to corner, leaving Shaun the chance to avenge burglaries past, balls laid out almost like a training exercise. The Jumping Dragon is very much sat down, nausea doubtless building.
Murphy 3-4 Zhou (0-44)
Zhou's break-building has improved through this match and he works this opportunity well, black now on its spot but its route to the pockets blocked, pink doing all the work.
Murphy 3-4 Zhou (0-15)
Shaun catches a red full-ball en route back to baulk, leaving a starter to left corner that Zhou eases it down; a big contribution here and he'll feel close to victory but, though there are loose reds, he's work to do bringing the black into play. For now, though, pinks will get him going.
On table two
John Higgins 4-2 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 3-4 Zhou
Zhou leaves one, Shaun does enough, and the gap is closed to one.
Murphy 2-4 Zhou (57-0)
Shaun opens the pack, but lands on nothing easy ... so slots a decent recovery to left corner. Into the bunch again, though, he's again unlucky, so it's back to baulk. Can Zhou manufacture a hat-trick of robberies?
Murphy 2-4 Zhou (28-0)
It's Shaun in first in frame seven, Zhou leaving a dart to left corner, exoertly rammed home. This feels like a big visit, because if Shaun wins the frame from here he'll feel back in the match, but if he doesn't, he might soon be out of it.
On table two
John Higgins 4-2 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 2-4 Zhou
Three in a row for Zhou, and Shaun, searching for form in his first tournament of the season, facing someone who's played a bit more, must surely take the next frame.
Murphy 2-3 Zhou (0-88)
Zhou makes the frame safe.
Murphy 2-3 Zhou (0-48)
Methodically, Zhou accumulates, and a two-frame lead at this stage would be massive for him.
Murphy 2-3 Zhou (0-18)
Gosh, Shaun catgches the third red down off the break ... and goes in-off into right corner. So Zhou gets away, and if he can clear a path for the black to reach the corners, he's in ... he's in. This feels like a big moment in the match.
On table two
John Higgins 3-2 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 2-3 Zhou
Neither man is playing well, and though it's been Shaun looking the stronger, he's twice faltered at the end of frames, hence he trails.
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (65-72)
Zhou removes that tricky red; might the brown knocked safe ... ish ... save Shaun? The green offers the chance to get in behind it, but Zhou doesn't give it enough, leaving a nasty cut-back ... that he wobbles in, just. This is going to another robbery!
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (65-55)
A poor shot from Shaun allows Zhou in, and can he clear? There's a red in the middle of black cush, but otherwise no demons on the table, and a second consecutive steal would have El Mago feeling extremely poorly.
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (65-24)
Shaun cuts obliquely to left corner, great shot, but where's the cue-ball going? It's in the jaws of the green bag ... and stops, but is he angled? No, but he's on nothing pottable, so he knocks the brown safe with eight points fewer remaining, the frame slowly moving towards him.
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (64-24)
It's getting tight, the five remaining reds now close together and also close to black cush, then Zhou misses four times seeking a thin contact, penalty points mounting. With 67 left, he's still well in the frame, but can't afford many more mistakes.
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (48-24)
Shaun offers Zhou an opportunity, but again he loses control of the white; end of break.
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'It doesn't matter' - Zhou pots white but still wins frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (48-12)
Oh but he's not; it looked like he had one to middle but he doesn't, so it's back to the bottom rail, frame still in the balance.
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (48-12)
This is more like it, a player accepting an opportunity in the proper manner – but there's work still to do, the reds under the pink needing broken. Shaun goes at them off the blue, and is he on one? Yes he is.
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Zhou pulls off impressive escape after Murphy snooker
Video credit: TNT Sports
Murphy 2-2 Zhou (15-12)
Both men miss snicks to middle, then Zhou gets in ... and undercuts to the same centre bag. Chance for Shaun...
We go again...
Murphy 2-2 Zhou
And somehow, Zhou pinches it – that red was a beauty. We're level at the interval, and the second sesh should be a banger.
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (65-53)
Simple pink and black for 2-2...
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (65-48)
Zhou goes at a red to the yellow bag ... and steers in a beauty. But if he's to clear up, he'll need to get at the brown, marrooned in the middle of the baulk cushion ... and he gets nicely on the green to develop it ... does, and can he sneak out of this session at 2-2? He's odds-on!
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (65-32)
Shaun looks to curt from centre to corner, does so nicely, and though a cannon means he must then tuck in behind the yellow, when a colour seals the frame, he's in control of it – though he can't snick to middle when the escape leaves him the opportunity.
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (64-32)
Zhou keeps the run alive with a double, then seems to blame a bad contact for taking him out of position; whatever the reason, once again he can't make the most of a good opportunity, and Shaun remains a strong favourite for the frame.
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (64-18)
Professional sportsfolk, especially the elite, are expert exploiters of weakness, but Shaun doesnt quite make the fra,e safe, running out of position, missing a red across the table, and sitting down with a lead of 50 but leaving 67 points on the table.
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (39-14)
Yeah, Shaun has acclimatised, and if he makes this 3-1, without having played all that well, Zhou, who's missed a load of chances and has a very poor record against El Mago, will start to wonder.
Murphy 2-1 Zhou (1-14)
Zhou gets in and out – he's struggling to play well enough for long enough when scoring – and the way the balls are, this is going to cost him.
On table two
John Higgins 1-1 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 2-1 Zhou
There was plenty of work to do after it, but the fluke gave Shaun the impetus he needed, and he moves ahead.
Murphy 1-1 Zhou (71-7)
And it is.
Murphy 1-1 Zhou (39-7)
If shaun can break four reds off the blue, the frame will be at his mercy, ad here he goes ... good shot. This should be 2-1.
Murphy 1-1 Zhou (12-7)
Again, though, Shaun runs out of position, neither player yet fully settled, but when he takes on a long red to left corner, the ball rolls into right, he's on the yellow, and that might be a crucial break in this frame.
Murphy 1-1 Zhou (2-7)
Shaun's long game remains a thing of beauty, and he caresses into right corner ... only to leave yellow in the jaws. That allows Zhou to get away, breaking the pack in the process, but addressing the blackwith the spider, he's got plenty to think about, coming at it from far away and needing to cut it into left corner ... which he cannot do. Chance for Shaun to punish.
On table two
John Higgins 1-1 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 1-1 Zhou
Zhou misses a red to corner, but he's far enough ahead that Shaun concedes, and this is developing into a fun contest, as we knew it would.
Murphy 1-0 Zhou (12-62)
Full, deserved reward for that long red to get in; Zhou secures a frame he needed to win.
Murphy 1-0 Zhou (12-48)
Zhou's escape is good enough, Shaun unable to sink a starter taken on as a shot to nothing down the side rail. And the Jumping Dragon cues beautifully to slip into left corner; this is a chance to level the match.
Murphy 1-0 Zhou (12-35)
Zhou then misses when in, but is left another chance immediately, only to miss a mid-range red to right corner, two decent opportunities spurned. At this level, you'd expect that to be punished, and Shaun slots a beauty to the green bag via rest. Then, when he runs out of position, he lands a snooker tight behind the yellow.
On table two
John Higgins 1-0 Jack Lisowski
Murphy 1-0 Zhou
My computer crashes and intimates that it might be broken, a fear I'm glad was unfounded; I'm not sure how, but Shaun sees out the first frame.
Murphy 0-0 Zhou (34-41)
Left a cut-back after a foul, Zhou slides it into left corner, working his way on to a nasty one down the side. And he can't force it down, overcutting, and it's taking both players a while to settle here.
Murphy 0-0 Zhou (34-23)
Shaun's had a bit of time to reflect on his final-frame defeat in the World Championship final, but will know he's playing well, an all-round master, so doesn't need to change anything. He overcuts here, though, so with four reds left the frame remains in the balance.
Murphy 0-0 Zhou (21-23)
Ach, but from a promising position, Zhou loses control of the white, forced to play safe unable even to put Shaun in trouble. And has he left a shot to nothing? He has you know, a starter flowed home, then it's in behind the green, nice and tight, the escape played well. But has he left a cut to middle? He sure has, and again it's dispatched, this time leaving a useful opportunity.
Murphy 0-0 Zhou (15-9)
Zhou is perhaps the best player never to win a ranking title, whereas Shaun has just been made MBE, parrtly on account of those he's taken - oh my goodness, he'll be happy with that. But it's the jumping Dragon at the table, following a breakdown from his opponent, cutting nicely to corner with the spider, and this is chance to score.
And off we go...
Hello there
And welcome to the Shanghai Masters – day three!
We'll begin with coverage of Shaun Murphy v Zhao Yuelong, updating from Jack Lisowski v John Higgins, after which it's Wu Yize v Si Jiahui, with updats from Zhao Xintong v Ding Junhui. Not bad.
How to watch and stream the Shanghai Masters
You can watch every day of the 2026 Shanghai Masters live on TNT Sports.
It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.Â
Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide.a
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