Wu Yize v Shaun Murphy live stream | Shanghai Masters 2026 preview
Wu and Murphy renew their rivalry on Thursday (PA Images)
Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy face off at the Shanghai Masters in what is a repeat of their epic of World Championship final showdown.
It is just 87 days since the pair contested one of the greatest finals in Crucible history, with Wu eventually prevailing 18-17 to become the second-youngest champion of all time.
For both players, this is only their second match since then and, while the stakes may not be so high, they are bound to experience a superb atmosphere at Luwan Indoor Stadium.
Fittingly, Wu’s first tournament since becoming World champion is on home soil, and he would love to mark it with a deep run at the very least.
The Lanzhou Lion started well enough, hitting two breaks of 140 – along with further contributions of 108 and 64 – on the way to a 6-2 victory over compatriot Si Jiahui in the second round.
Coincidentally, just like at the Crucible earlier this year, Wu had not won a match at the Shanghai Masters in his two previous appearances, so he will hope that a similar outcome ensues this week.
Murphy will be desperate to avenge that heartbreaking defeat, as the 2005 World champion fell at the final hurdle for the fourth time in five appearances in the Sheffield showpiece.
The Magician was also a beaten finalist at the Xi’an Grand Prix and German Masters last season, but did claim silverware at the British Open.
Murphy will now have his sights set on making it third time lucky in Shanghai, where he was runner-up in 2019 and 2024, and he has momentum after a spirited fightback from 4-2 down to defeat Zhou Yuelong 6-5 in round two.
Another former World champion awaits in the semi-finals, with the winner set to lock horns with either world number one Judd Trump or four-time Crucible king John Higgins.
The match breaks off at 12.30pm BST (7.30pm local time) on Thursday and will be contested over the best of 11 frames at Luwan Indoor Stadium.
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