The Masters snooker 2024: How to watch and who is playing? What’s the schedule? Is Ronnie O’Sullivan playing?
The snooker year in 2024 starts with a bang, with the elite of the sport descending on Alexandra Palace for the Masters.
Although not a ranking event, it is one of the trio of elite tournaments in snooker – alongside the UK Championship and the World Championship – that make up the Triple Crown.
Qualification is through the world rankings, meaning the cream of the crop will be battling it out at a venue capable of hosting 2,000 spectators. Hold on tight from January 7-14, as it will be a rip-roaring atmosphere in north London.
When and where is the Masters?
The action gets underway at Alexandra Palace on January 7, with world champion Luca Brecel opening up against Jack Lisowski. The final takes place on January 14.
How to watch and stream the Masters
Who is playing in the Masters?
With qualification secured via ranking, it is the form players who are on show at Alexandra Palace.
World No. 1 O’Sullivan will be the headline act given his legion of fans, but the eye is also drawn to the likes of Mark Allen, Trump and the in-form Zhang Anda.
The moment Judd Trump sealed the Masters title
What is the schedule for the Masters?
With a one-table setup, there will be two matches a day for the opening round from Sunday, January 7 to Wednesday, January 10.
The quarter-finals will take place over four sessions on the ensuing Thursday and Friday.
Saturday will host the two semi-finals, while the final will be played over two sessions on Sunday, January 14. All sessions will begin at 1pm and 7pm.
What is the prize money?
As one of the sport’s biggest events, huge sums are up for grabs with a total prize fund of £725,000.
- Winner: £250,000
- Runner-up: £100,000
- Losing semi-finalist: £60,000
- Losing quarter-finalist: £30,000
- Loser in first round: £15,000
- Highest break: £15,000
What is the format for the Masters?
All matches are best of 11 frames until the final which is the best of 19.
The Masters draw
- Judd Trump (ENG) (1) v Kyren Wilson (ENG) (9)
- Mark Williams (WAL) (8) v Ali Carter (ENG) (11)
- Mark Selby (ENG) (5) v Robert Milkins (ENG) (14)
- Mark Allen (NIR) (4) v John Higgins (SCO) (10)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG) (3) v Ding Junhui (CHN) (12)
- Neil Robertson (AUS) (6) v Barry Hawkins (ENG) (15)
- Shaun Murphy (ENG) (7) v Zhang Anda (CHN) (13)
- Luca Brecel (BEL) (2) v Jack Lisowski (ENG) (16)
Order of Play for the Masters
Round one
- 1pm: Luca Brecel v Jack Lisowski
- 7pm: Shaun Murphy v Zhang Anda
- 1pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ding Junhui
- 7pm: Mark Williams v Ali Carter
- 1pm: Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson
- 7pm: Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins
- 1pm: Mark Allen v John Higgins
- 7pm: Mark Selby v Robert Milkins
Quarter-finals
- 1pm: QF3 – O’Sullivan or Ding v Robertson or Hawkins
- 7pm: QF4 – Brecel or Lisowski v Murphy or Zhang
- 1pm: QF1 – Trump or Wilson v Williams or Carter
- 7pm: QF2 – Allen or Higgins v Selby or Milkins
Semi-finals
- 1pm: Winner of QF3 v Winner of QF4
- 7pm: Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF2
Final
Previous winners
- 1975: John Spencer (ENG)
- 1976: Ray Reardon (WAL)
- 1977: Doug Mountjoy (WAL)
- 1978: Alex Higgins (NIR)
- 1979: Perrie Mans (SAF)
- 1980: Terry Griffiths (WAL)
- 1981: Alex Higgins (NIR)
- 1982: Steve Davis (ENG)
- 1983: Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
- 1984: Jimmy White (ENG)
- 1985: Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
- 1986: Cliff Thorburn (CAN)
- 1987: Dennis Taylor (NIR)
- 1988: Steve Davis (ENG)
- 1989: Stephen Hendry (SCO)
- 1990: Stephen Hendry (SCO)
- 1991: Stephen Hendry (SCO)
- 1992: Stephen Hendry (SCO)
- 1993: Stephen Hendry (SCO)
- 1994: Alan McManus (SCO)
- 1995: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 1996: Stephen Hendry (SCO)
- 1997: Steve Davis (ENG)
- 1998: Mark Williams (WAL)
- 1999: John Higgins (SCO)
- 2000: Matthew Stevens (WAL)
- 2001: Paul Hunter (ENG)
- 2002: Paul Hunter (ENG)
- 2003: Mark Williams (WAL)
- 2004: Paul Hunter (ENG)
- 2005: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 2006: John Higgins (SCO)
- 2007: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 2008: Mark Selby (ENG)
- 2009: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 2010: Mark Selby (ENG)
- 2011: Ding Junhui (CHN)
- 2012: Neil Robertson (AUS)
- 2013: Mark Selby (ENG)
- 2014: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 2015: Shaun Murphy (ENG)
- 2016: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 2017: Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- 2018: Mark Allen (NIR)
- 2019: Judd Trump (ENG)
- 2020: Stuart Bingham (ENG)
- 2021: Yan Bingtao (CHN)
- 2022: Neil Robertson (AUS)
- 2023: Judd Trump (ENG)
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