Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a humbling exit from the Shanghai Masters after a commanding performance by Kyren Wilson ended his run in the quarter-finals.
The seven-time world champion was beaten 6-3 by the in-form Wilson, who produced an outstanding display in front of a packed Chinese crowd.
The 49-year-old, widely regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time, was left rooted in his chair in astonishment for the final three frames of the match as Wilson raced to victory.
O’Sullivan scored just four points in those closing frames, while Wilson compiled stunning breaks of 91, 83, and 109 to seal the win in ruthless fashion.
Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a humbling exit from the Shanghai Masters after a commanding performance by Kyren Wilson ended his run in the quarter-finals
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It was Wilson’s sixth consecutive win over O’Sullivan — a remarkable streak against a player many consider the sport’s GOAT.
The Kettering-born world No 2 will now face Zhao Xintong in what promises to be a high-octane semi-final clash.
Zhao, 28, put in a dominant performance of his own earlier in the day, dismantling Chinese legend Ding Junhui 6-1.
The reigning world champion set the tone early with a clinical 134 break and wrapped up the match with another impressive effort of 118.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan was left rooted to his chair in astonishment amid his defeat to Kyren Wilson at the Shanghai Masters
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It was a powerful statement from Zhao, who continues to grow in stature on the international stage.
The other semi-final will feature Mark Selby against Ali Carter, setting up a fascinating conclusion to one of the most prestigious events on the snooker calendar.
Speaking after his victory, 33-year-old Wilson reflected on both the challenge and the spectacle of taking on O’Sullivan in front of an enthusiastic Shanghai audience.
“It’s always satisfying to win playing the right way,” Wilson said.
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“At 2-2, the match really could’ve gone either way — it was that close.
"Even when I got 70 points ahead, Ronnie fought back, got snookers, and made it difficult. That’s what he does.”
Wilson used the interval to refocus: “I went into the practice room at the break, just to reset.
"I knew I had to come out strong, and thankfully, I did.”
He then praised the atmosphere and the stature of the tournament: “This event really feels like the showpiece in China now.
"It has that same energy as the Masters in London — the best players in the world all in one place, and a crowd that really appreciates the game. It was Box Office stuff.”
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Kyren Wilson was outstanding as he defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Shanghai Masters
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“With Zhao and Ding on one table, and Ronnie on the other, it was a dream lineup for the fans. They definitely got their money’s worth.”
As the Shanghai Masters heads into its final stages, all eyes will be on whether Wilson can carry this momentum through to lift the trophy — and whether Zhao can continue his rise as China's new snooker superstar.