O´Sullivan vs Linhao, Liu Prediction 27 July 2026

It’s hard to say anything new about Ronnie. Even at 50, he remains the kind of player who can win a tournament straight off the bat. Recent seasons have shown that O’Sullivan’s motivation doesn’t always show up at every event, but when it comes to the major invitational tournaments, he almost always looks like a different player.

Shanghai is a particularly special place for him. Five titles at this tournament speak for themselves, and the Chinese fans have long considered Ronnie one of their absolute favorites. Here, he rarely plays it safe, if he finds his rhythm, he tends to take control of the match early on.

There are no doubts about his break-building either. Even in seasons when his results have been inconsistent, Ronnie has continued to rack up big breaks with an ease most players can only dream of. If the Englishman settles into his usual groove in the opening frames, chasing him down becomes an almost impossible task.

For Lu, simply taking part in a match of this magnitude is a major milestone. The young Chinese player has earned the opportunity to face a living legend, and encounters like this often serve as a true test of character. There’s little to lose, but potentially a great deal to gain.

Linhao enjoys playing with confidence and isn’t afraid to go on the attack at the first opportunity, much like many of his compatriots on the snooker circuit. However, it’s one thing to be aggressive against opponents of a similar standard, and quite another when up against O’Sullivan. Ronnie rarely lets positional mistakes slide, and any failed attacking shot can quickly turn into a century break against you.

The key for the Chinese youngster is to manage his emotions and avoid burning out early. If he can settle into the match without making costly errors in the opening frames, he has every chance to make individual frames competitive.