Shanghai Masters
For the first time, the tournament is classed as an invitational as opposed to a ranking event, featuring an elite field of 24 players competing for £725,000 in prize money.
The top 16 players in the world rankings following the World Open are joined by the next four highest ranked Chinese players, two players from the CBSA China Tour and two from China’s Amateur Masters series.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending champion after he defeated Judd Trump 10-3 in last year’s final, and ‘The Rocket’ will return to Shanghai to make his first competitive appearance of the 2018/19 season.
O’Sullivan is one of the top eight seeds who receive a bye into the Second Round – those players also include Mark Selby, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, Barry Hawkins and Shaun Murphy.
Shanghai Masters Snooker Roll of Honour
| Year | Final Result |
| 2007 | Dominic Dale 10-6 Ryan Day |
| 2008 | Ricky Walden 10-8 Ronnie O’Sullivan |
| 2009 | Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 Liang Wenbo |
| 2010 | Ali Carter 10-7 Jamie Burnett |
| 2011 | Mark Selby 10-9 Mark Williams |
| 2012 | John Higgins 10-9 Judd Trump |
| 2013 | Ding Junhui 10-6 Xiao Guodong |
| 2014 | Stuart Bingham 10-3 Mark Allen |
| 2015 | Kyren Wilson 10-9 Judd Trump |
| 2016 | Ding Junhui 10-6 Mark Selby |
| 2017 | Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-3 Judd Trump |
| 2018 | Ronnie O’Sullivan 11-9 Barry Hawkins |