John Higgins
John Higgins

Shanghai Masters: John Higgins, Mark Selby and Mark Allen among winners on opening day


Our 9/1 pre-tournament outright tip John Higgins made a strong start at the Shanghai Masters as he defeated Alexander Ursenbacher 5-2.

The Scot made an impressive 131 break which put him 4-1 ahead of the promising Swiss cueman, before he sealed victory with a run of 73 and he is now into 7/1 with Sky Bet to lift the trophy.

World number one Mark Selby (4/1 favourite) got back to winning ways after last week's defeat to Luca Brecel at the Champion of Champions in Coventry by beating Ian Burns 5-2.

Selby, a winner in China just two weeks ago at the International Championship, did struggle early on and trailed 2-1 but breaks of 68, 120 and 132 got him home.

Welshman Michael White (66/1) claimed a first ever career win over Mark Davis at the 10th attempt, edging home 5-4 thanks to breaks of 76, 66 and a superb 140 - the highest of the day.

Our 25/1 each-way tip Mark Allen once more got the better of Chinese teenager Yan Bingtao as he powered to a 5-1 success.

PRICE BOOST: Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Shanghai Masters is 5/1 from 4/1 with Sky Bet!

Less than two weeks after beating the 17-year-old 9-2 in the semi-finals of the International Championship, the Ulsterman again proved too strong with a top break of 102 and he is looking forward to doing well in China once more.

"It was a bit of a scrappy game, but I felt like I dominated," Allen told worldsnooker.com. "My safety was good and I limited him to small chances.

"I have done well in China this season despite not sleeping well - maybe that’s the secret."

Home favourite Liang Wenbo (40/1) had a top run of 125 as he saw off the stubborn Rod Lawler 5-2, while Jack Lisowski's (33/1) good recent run of form continued as breaks of 113, 117, 86, 86 and 82 saw him to a 5-1 win over Chris Totten.

MONDAY'S RESULTS

  • Billy Joe Castle 5-2 Zhang Jiangkang (Match 1)
  • Li Zhen 3-5 Chen Feilong (Match 2)
  • Soheil Vahedi 5-2 Ma Chunmao (Match 3)
  • Tom Ford 4-5 Jimmy Robertson (Match 12)
  • Lee Walker 4-5 Kurt Maflin (Match 13)
  • Ryan Day 4-5 Yu De Lu (Match 14)
  • Yan Bingtao 1-5 Mark Allen (Match 16)
  • Jack Lisowski 5-1 Chris Totten (Match 18)
  • John Higgins 5-2 Alexander Ursenbacher (Match 7)
  • Liang Wenbo 5-2 Rod Lawler (Match 8)
  • Fergal O'Brien 5-4 Mitchell Mann (Match 15)
  • Mark King 2-5 Jamie Jones (Match 22)
  • Michael Georgiou 3-5 Ben Woollaston (Match 25)
  • Zhou Yuelong 5-4 Sanderson Lam (Match 28)
  • David Gilbert 5-0 Mark Joyce (Match 30)
  • Wang Yuchen 1-5 Mark Williams (Match 39)
  • Mei Xi Wen bt Ding Junhui W/O (Match 4)
  • Billy Joe Castle 4-5 Rory McLeod (Match 5)
  • Chen Feilong 3-5 Stuart Carrington (Match 6)
  • Soheil Vahedi 5-4 Sam Baird (Match 9)
  • Mark Selby 5-2 Ian Burns (Match 10)
  • Graeme Dott 5-3 Xiao Guodong (Match 20)
  • Robert Milkins 5-4 Lyu Haotian (Match 33)
  • Michael White 5-4 Mark Davis (Match 36)

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14
Morning Session (0100 GMT)
First Round (best of 9 frames)

  • Alfie Burden v Judd Trump (Match 26)
  • Barry Hawkins v Daniel Wells (Match 35)

Afternoon Session (0630 GMT)
First Round (best of 9 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1

  • Cao Yupeng v Michael Holt (Match 17)
  • Yuan SiJun v Robbie Williams (Match 19)
  • John Higgins v Ian Preece (Match 27)
  • Liang Wenbo v John J Astley (Match 29)
  • Akani Songsermsawad bt Stuart Bingham W/O (Match 32)
  • Joe Perry v Matthew Selt (Match 38)
  • Dominic Dale v Alan McManus (Match 41)
  • Chris Wakelin v Mark Selby (Match 42)

Evening Session (1130 GMT)
First Round (best of 9 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1

  • Mei Xi Wen v Adam Duffy (Match 11)
  • Luca Brecel v Matthew Stevens (Match 21)
  • Rory McLeod v Stephen Maguire (Match 23)
  • Stuart Carrington v Ali Carter (Match 24)
  • Li Yuan v Martin Gould (Match 31)
  • Hossein Vafaei v Marco Fu (Match 34)
  • Soheil Vahedi v Gerard Greene (Match 40)

Related links

Sporting Life - Get Ahead Logo
MY SPORTING LIFE
Download the app
Apple App Store Image
Google Play Image
Football data provided by
Opta Logo
Horse Racing Powered By
Timeform Logo
Download the app
Apple App Store Image
Google Play Image
Check out our Podcasts
This Week's Acca Podcast
Taking The Reins Podcast
© 2024 Hestview Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo