Shanghai Masters 2023 snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter could renew old rivalry as Luca Brecel handed tough test

Essex rivals Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter could be set to do battle at the Shanghai Masters next month after the draw details for the 24-player invitational tournament were announced on Friday.

Defending champion O’Sullivan – who also claimed the elite title in 2017 and 2018 – will start his campaign in the last 16 against 2010 Shanghai winner Carter, providing the German Masters holder negotiates his opening match against a wildcard entrant.

The top eight in the world rankings are seeded through to the second round with the remaining eight facing the four highest-ranked Chinese players, plus four wildcards who earn spots from the CBSA Under-21 event which finishes a week on Saturday.

It remains Carter’s only victory over O’Sullivan at the World Championship with the six-time champion enjoying wins in the 2008 (18-8) and 2012 (18-11) finals – and a 13-8 triumph in the last 16 in 2013 respectively.

Meanwhile, 2013 and 2016 winner Ding Junhui will face recent World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui in the opening round, while Jack Lisowski knows a victory over Zhou Yuelong in his first-round match will secure a last-16 meeting with close friend Judd Trump.

World champion Luca Brecel is in line for a meeting with Mark Williams – who he defeated 13-11 in the second round of the World Championship in April – if the Welshman can overcome Crucible qualifier Pang Junxu.

Elsewhere, 2015 champion Kyren Wilson awaits the winner of John Higgins and the Scotsman’s match with a wild card, with 2011 winner Mark Selby knowing he will meet Hossein Vafaei in the last 16 if Iran’s ‘Prince of Persia’ can claim a win against his wild card opponent.

The Shanghai Masters is the first major tournament on mainland China after the Covid-19 pandemic. It runs between 11-17 September and is live on Eurosport and discovery+.

All matches are the best-of-11 frames, with the semi-finals increasing to the best of 19 before a best-of-21 frame final.

The winner receives a prize of £210,000.