Shanghai Masters snooker 2023 LIVE – Neil Robertson faces Ding Junhui with Shaun Murphy also in action

Ding foul-misses and Neil quickly liberates one of the three remaining reds before laying a snooker – with a pot on – behind the yellow. In co-comms, Fergal Keane notes that when he plays the Thunder, he hopes he to see scoring opportunities turned down because the way to beat him is by bogging him down. But Ding misses then finds himself snookered again, missing again, and this lead is mounting.

Ding jawses a red down the side into right corner and Neil quickly removes the offending ball. However with six reds clustered near the top rail, he’s got work to do. But a double-kiss as he tries to develop one means he’s got to play safe, behind black and green, and I’d still fancy him for this frame.

Another cagey start to a frame before Ding catches a cut to right corner thick, allowing Neil to tuck away a starter. Ding looks aggravated and well he might, because this is another good chance … except a careless blue leaves a tricky red to right corner … which Neil takes on though the white might go into left … which it does. No matter: Ding, eyeing up a red to left corner, feathers the white, calls a foul on himself, and Neil sticks home the ball in question but gets no position.A felicitous cannon then sends him behind the green, his roll-up misses, and Ding is back at the table.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Robert Milkins

Ding gets in again and the green is enough for the frame.

Ding strokes it down and plays safe off the green, so Neil returns to the table requiring a snooker.

Ding takes these as nicely as you expect, but he will need the yellow, sat just off the rail near the baulk line. He’s got a nice angle and here we go…

Out of nowhere, Neil misses an almost-straight red to left-middle, presenting Ding with a chance he’ll have scarcely expected. Can he capitalise?

A cagey start to frame two, Ding missing to the green but leaving nothing. The reds, though, make their way down the table and whoever gets in first is going to find themselves with a serious chance to take the frame … and it’s Neil taking great care to slide a red into right-middle, aware it’s almost impossible to miss position so all that counts is the pot. So down it goes and, with a ton already in the bank, you strongly fancy him to double his advantage at this visit.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Robert Milkins

Fan Zhengyi, who meets the winner of this match next, beat Mark Allen 6-3, and Luca Brecel, the world champ, saw off Mark J Williams 6-4.

A run of 102 and Neil, who misses a pink to left corner, has the lead.

Yup, this is good from Neil who, as a top-eight player missed round one. He eliminates a red to leave Ding, who saw off Si Jiahui 6-2, needing snookers, and proceeds to eliminate further balls in search of a tone-setting ton.

Neil misses with a roll-up, ceding four, then when he hits second go, he leaves one. And, as we know, there aren’t many better in the balls than Ding … but early doors, he undercuts a red to right corner and Neil, another dazzling potter, looks to punish.

Ding Junhui, the local hero, against Neil Robertson. First to six and here we go!

Welcome to the Shanghai Masters – day three! And here come our players!

Follow LIVE updates to the Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui match here from 12:30

The 2023/24 snooker season is now well underway, and next on the calendar is the Shanghai Masters as the World Snooker Tour returns to China following a four-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the four-time winner and defending champion, and the action starts on Monday, September 11 until the final on September 17.

The 2023 Shanghai Masters runs from September 11-17 at the Shanghai Grand Stage venue in Shanghai, China.