Shanghai Masters 2025 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play
Zhao launches his season in Shanghai (Credit: PA Images)
Zhao Xintong plays his first match as the reigning World champion when he takes on Chris Wakelin at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday.
It promises to be an exciting day of action at Luwan Gymnasium in Shanghai, with the Crucible king joined by all three members of the ‘Class of 92’ in Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams.
The Cyclone became the first Chinese player to don the Crucible crown following his remarkable triumph in Sheffield back in May.
Fast forward 87 days and Zhao officially begins his reign in his homeland, and he does so against a familiar opponent.
Indeed, the players met in the quarter-finals of last season’s World Championship, with Zhao blitzing to a 13-5 rout on the way to glory.
Back on the WST as a professional for the first time since his suspension for match-fixing offences, the left-hander will be eager to hit the ground running here.
Meanwhile, Wakelin is hoping for another strong campaign, having broken into the top 16 and reached the International Championship final on Chinese soil last term.
Elsewhere, O’Sullivan also launches his 2025-26 campaign against Barry Hawkins.
The Rocket is targeting a record-extending sixth title in Shanghai, where his run of four successive triumphs was ended by eventual champion Judd Trump in last year’s semi-finals.
Although, he will be wary of 2018 finalist Hawkins, who was a 6-4 winner when the players last met in the opening round of the 2024 UK Championship.
It is now 13 years since Higgins was crowned the Shanghai Masters champion, after recovering from 7-2 down to edge out Trump 10-9 in the final.
The Wizard goes up against Xiao Guodong – runner-up to Ding Junhui in 2013 – after the reigning Wuhan Open winner was a 6-3 victor over Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan in round one.
Higgins has won each of the last five meetings between the players (excluding the Championship League), including a 13-12 success in their epic second-round clash at the Crucible three months ago.
The day’s other showdown sees Williams go head to head with 2010 champion Ali Carter, who is fresh from a 6-1 rout of Qui Lei in round one.
The 50-year-old will hope his 34th successive season as a professional is as strong as 2024-25, in which he won the Champion of Champions and just missed out on a fourth World title to an inspired Zhao.
Play gets under way at 7am BST on Wednesday with all matches contested over the best of 11 frames at Luwan Gymnasium in Shanghai.
WATCH THE SHANGHAI MASTERS STREAMED LIVE HERE
18+ | T&Cs Apply | Geo restrictions may apply | Be Gamble Aware
Shanghai Masters 2025 Schedule of Play
All times BST (local time +7 hours)
Wednesday July 30
Round Two
7am
Mark Williams v Ali Carter
John Higgins v Xiao Guodong
12.30pm
Zhao Xintong v Chris Wakelin
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Barry Hawkins