2025 Shanghai Masters Snooker draw, schedule and prize money announced
Judd Trump will head to the Shanghai Masters as defending champion (Picture: Getty Images)
The world's best players contest the Shanghai Masters next month, with the draw throwing up some cracking contests in the high profile non-ranking event.
The world's top 16 qualify for the tournament, joined by the next four highest ranked Chinese players and four amateur wildcards.
The 24-player draw means the top eight in the world go straight into the last 16, while players ranked 9-16 have to face the Chinese qualifiers.
The Shanghai Masters was first held in 2007 but it was a very different ranking tournament back then, switching to the invitational format in 2018.
Almost a Chinese version of London's Masters, it has become a fantastic early-season event which always attracts the biggest names in the game.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has especially enjoyed it, winning four editions of the event on the spin from 2017-23, either side of a gap over Covid.
Judd Trump goes in as the defending champion this time round after he beat Shaun Murphy in last year's final.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is the most successful player at the Shanghai Masters (Picture: Getty Images)
When is the Shanghai Masters?
The tournament runs from July 28 to the final on August 3 at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium.
It will be the second trophy handed out of the 2025/26 season after the Championship League comes to a conclusion on July 23.
Shanghai Masters draw and schedule
Monday July 28
UK times
Round One
02.30: Barry Hawkins vs Wu Yize
02.30: Si Jiahui vs Wildcard
07.00: Zhang Anda vs Yuan Sijun
07.00: Chris Wakelin vs Wildcard
12.30: Neil Robertson vs Pang Junxu
12.30: Shaun Murphy vs Wildcard
Tuesday July 29
Round One
02.30: Mark Allen vs Wildcard
02.30: Xiao Guodong vs Lei Peifan
Round Two
07.00: Kyren Wilson vs Si/Wildcard
07.00: Mark Selby vs Murphy/Wildcard
12.30: Ding Junhui vs Zhang/Yuan
12.30: Judd Trump vs Robertson/Pang
Wednesday July 30
Round Two
07.00: Mark Williams vs Allen/Wildcard
07.00: John Higgins vs Xiao/Lei
12.30: Zhao Xintong vs Wakelin/Wildcard
12.30: Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Hawkins/Wu
Shanghai Masters Prize Money
Winner £210,000
Runner-up £105,000
Semi-finals £70,000
Quarter-finals £35,000
Last 16 £17,500
Last 24 £10,000
Judd Trump won his first Shanghai Masters title last year (Picture: Getty Images)
Trump's brilliant 2024 win
Trump made a tournament record 10 centuries on his way to the trophy last year, beating Mark Williams, Si Jiahui, O'Sullivan and Murphy along the way.
Speaking after winning the title last year, he said: 'The age of the crowd in China is so much younger than the rest of the world. I always enjoy playing in front of a fanbase where I can inspire the next generation. I think that is why my record in China is so good,' said Trump.
'I want to win as many big tournaments as possible this season. This is probably one of the top five events on the calendar. To win this one early on is an amazing start. I would like to replicate what I did last season and get close to five wins or even more. I couldn't have dreamed of a better start.'
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The National
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The Herald Scotland
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There's a number of reasons why it's so important that Alcaraz and not Sinner becomes the next real tennis great. The first reason is down to the style of their tennis. Alcaraz is, to my eye anyway, a far more flashy, skilful and compelling player to watch. The Spaniard has considerably more flair and variety in comparison to Sinner. The Italian is, it cannot be denied, a phenomenon on the tennis court. So consistently outstanding are his ground strokes, he's almost robotic-like. The sparsity of his unforced errors is remarkable. And the quality of his hitting is perhaps the best the sport has ever seen. But, for me, watching that style of tennis for a prolonged length of time, no matter how high quality it is, just isn't all that interesting. Give me variety, flair, imagination and creativity any day of the week, even if it results in quite a few more unforced errors. Alcaraz is the defending champion at Wimbledon (Image: Getty Images) The second reason is personality. 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Powys County Times
12 hours ago
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Emma Raducanu played down expectations for another deep Wimbledon run ahead of a 'very dangerous' first-round match on Monday. The 22-year-old made the fourth round here last year in her biggest moment since winning the US Open in 2021 but has been dealing with some difficult personal news and a niggling back problem. And Raducanu – who insisted she is 'just good friends' with US Open doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz – will find herself in the position of senior player to be shot at on Court One on Monday when she takes on 17-year-old British debutante Mimi Xu. 'I think it's a very dangerous match, very difficult,' said Raducanu. 'I think Mimi is a really, really good player. I practised with her a few times. A lot of weapons. Also moves really well. 'For her it's one where there's nothing to lose. I remember when I had my first Wimbledon here and I was 18. It's a great feeling. You just feel completely fearless. 'So I think for me it's going to be a challenge, but one that I'm looking forward to and I'm ready for.' Xu is the oldest of three exciting teenagers representing Britain in the women's draw along with 16-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic. Raducanu burst onto the global stage here four years ago with a run to the last 16, and she said: 'It does feel like a long time ago. A lot has happened in the last four years. 'It's good to see a new generation. It keeps us on our toes. It keeps us hungry to improve. It's just healthy competition between all of us. I know I'm going to have to bring a really good level of tennis on Monday if I want to get through it.' Xu, from Swansea, is also of Chinese heritage, and Raducanu added: 'Mimi's mum has always been really nice to me. I speak to her in Chinese. It's good practice for me. I get to try and improve my Mandarin, which is good. 'I hit with her a few times at the NTC (National Tennis Centre), especially at the end of last year during the pre-season. Really good hits, really difficult. She's also a really nice girl. I got to know her at (Billie Jean King) Cup last year. It will be interesting to play her on Monday.' Raducanu admitted her back still is not 100 per cent, with a mixed grass-court season seeing her reach the quarter-finals at Queen's Club to reclaim the British number one ranking from Katie Boulter before pulling out of Berlin and losing early in Eastbourne. 'Truthfully I don't expect much from myself this year (at Wimbledon),' she said. 'I know I've just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment. I want to embrace the occasion. 'I know there's not many opportunities to be playing at Wimbledon. You get it once a year and for a finite amount of time. I'm just looking forward to going out there and feeling the surroundings and the atmosphere. 'Right now I'm just happy to be at Wimbledon. I think that is a great motivation to just keep going and deal with everything else afterwards.' Also facing the forecast hot temperatures on Monday will be Boulter, who takes on ninth seed Paula Badosa on Centre Court. It is a very tough draw for the 28-year-old, who chose to skip Eastbourne to prioritise trying to have a good run at Wimbledon. Boulter said: 'I do feel like I can play very well on these courts and I don't think that a seed is going to want to see me in their part of the draw either for a first round. 'I'm very, very excited. I feel like it's a totally different situation for me coming in this year. I'm not seeded. I'm kind of like a dark horse and I like that feeling. I do like the fact that I can go out and swing free and I've got nothing to lose.'
