Shanghai Masters 2023 snooker LIVE – Ronnie O’Sullivan meets Mark Selby in crunch semi-final

Mark can’t find position on the final red. So he lays a nice snooker behind black, but Ronnie responds with an excellent escape. Tap on the table from Selby to acknowledge that shot.

Well, a few surprising misses as another attempt on a red from O’Sullivan fails to drop. Got close to a red on side cushion off potting blue, but can’t convert. Reprieve for Selby. Down to the final two reds.

Selby looking very relaxed with his surroundings as he clips home a fine cut on a red, but he breaks down on 34 as a red to right centre stays out. Didn’t see that coming, and O’Sullivan is back at the table with an easy opener on a red. This first frame back in the balance.

16 off the bat from Ronnie before he loses position and runs safe. A settling in period is underway. Conditions look decent for scoring in Shanghai. Safety error by O’Sullivan presents Selby with his first chance of the chance.

Off we go then for this first semi-final. O’Sullivan gets the match off and running. Down to one table, and the crowd give both men a rousing reception. O’Sullivan first to the punch in the opening frame of the day.

A dominant 6-1 win in the quarter-finals against the Masters champion shows how well the four-time world champion is playing.

Fair to say, O’Sullivan showed his mettle in the last four on Thursday by winning the final four frames from 5-2 behind, including two centuries to finish. Higgins had chances to complete the victory, but you get punished at this level if you don’t put men like O’Sullivan away when the chance comes along.

Or wherever you are in the world. This match needs no introduction. The sport’s GOAT and ultimate showman Ronnie O’Sullivan against the game’s finest match player Mark Selby. A contest boasting 11 world titles on one table. One of the genuine snooker rivalries as a clash of styles collide in this best-of-19 frame semi-final. To be settled over two sessions. Nine in the morning, and a possible 10 in the afternoon. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object in sport? Should be a fascinating Friday with your morning cuppa. 7am start (BST) in Shanghai.

…to live coverage of Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Selby at the Shanghai Masters.