Mark Selby starts his 2026/27 campaign with a tough-looking clash with Zhou Yuelong in the first round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday.
The Jester from Leicester has not been seen in competitive action since his defeat to Wu Yize in the second round of the 2026 World Championship, having opted to swerve the season-opening Championship League.
Zhou was involved in that event, reaching the second round, but his overall form at the start of the season has been poor, as he has lost in qualifying for the British, Wuhan and Shenzhen Opens, only coming through to take his place in the main draw of next month's China Open.
The winner of this first-round match at the Luwan Indoor Stadium will go on to face Shaun Murphy in the last 16.
Mark Selby v Zhou Yuelong Tips Summary
Best Bet - Zhou Yuelong +2.5 @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Over 1.5 match centuries @ 4/6
Mark Selby v Zhou Yuelong Prediction
Best Bet: Zhou Yuelong +2.5 @ 1/1
Four-time world champion Selby is favourite for this match and there is every chance he can come through unscathed, but it has been three months since he was last seen in competitive action so he is unlikely to blow a player of Zhou's quality away.
It may not have been an overly impressive start to the season for world number 22 Zhou, but he has seen plenty of time on the table and should also have the support of a home crowd in Shanghai.
Zhou also has an impressive record against Selby, winning five of their eight previous meetings, including in the semi-finals of last season's English Open before he missed out on a first ranking event title after being edged out by Mark Allen in the final.
Selby did win the most recent clash between the pair, coming through a last 16 tie at the UK Championship - a tournament he went on to win - comfortably enough, while he also triumphed the last time they faced off at the Shanghai Masters in 2018.
However, that Shanghai showdown was won on a deciding frame, with Selby having to battle back from 5-3 down to come through 6-5, and a similarly tight affair is expected on Monday.
There is certainly value to be had in siding with Zhou as he has proven he is capable of getting the better of Selby, but the safer play, particularly at this early stage of the season, is to side with the 28-year-old with +2.5 frame start on the handicap.
Alternative Bet: Over 1.5 match centuries @ 4/6
The highlight of Selby's 2025/26 season was undoubtedly his third title success at the UK Championship, but that was his only event win of the campaign, which was somewhat surprising given he was in great break-building form.
Only 2025 world champion Zhao Xintong racked up more centuries during the season than Selby's total of 67 and only four players in history have produced more three-figure breaks than the Englishman.
Selby's career tally of centuries stands at 961 so he will expect to become the fifth player ever to reach 1000 this season, and he could get on his way against Zhou.
Zhou is no stranger to making centuries either, totting up a respectable 29 last season while he has already made three this term.
In a match that is expected to require most if not all 11 frames, there is every possibility of these two players racking up a pair of centuries between them.
Mark Selby v Zhou Yuelong H2H Record & Stats
Mark Selby | 3 |
Zhou Yuelong | 5 |
Key Match Stats
- This will be Mark Selby's first competitive match of the 2026/27 season
- Zhou Yuelong has lost in qualifying for this season's British, Wuhan and Shenzhen Opens
- Zhou has won five of his eight previous meetings with Selby
- Selby did win the pair's most recent clash, triumphing in the last 16 of the 2025 UK Championship
- Only Zhao Xintong racked up more centuries than Selby during the 2025/26 season
- Selby is a former Shanghai Masters winner, lifting the trophy in 2011 after beating Mark Williams in the final
Read more snooker betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
