The 2025 Masters begins on Sunday with 16 of one of the best snooker gamers on the planet as soon as once more assembling on the Alexandra Palace.
The marketing campaign’s largest invitational match returns to London for its 51st version, with a whopping £350,000 prime prize on provide for the winner this yr.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was as a result of return because the defending champion, however the Rocket gained’t be including to his document haul of eight titles after withdrawing on the eve of the occasion.
Half of the sector, although, already is aware of what it takes to outlast the opposition in what’s the calendar’s second-biggest competitors.
That degree of expertise is countered by the presence of two gamers who will likely be making their Masters debuts within the 2025 draw.
Let’s check out the eight first-round matches.
Neil Robertson vs John Higgins
Neil Robertson will likely be a darkish horse for glory this yr after being gifted a last-gasp ticket into the 2025 Masters draw following Ronnie O’Sullivan’s withdrawal.
The Australian, a winner at Ally Pally in 2012 and 2022, was the following highest ranked competitor when the cut-off level was decided final month.
Robertson faces John Higgins, who regardless of additionally being a two-time former champion has usually struggled to carry out at his greatest on this match within the English capital metropolis.
When is it? Sunday, January twelfth at 1pm UTC
Shaun Murphy vs Gary Wilson
It’s now ten years since Shaun Murphy etched his title onto the Masters silverware, a victory that represented his final in a Triple Crown match.
The Magician, who commences his bid for glory this yr in opposition to Gary Wilson, has solely twice reached the semi-finals since then.
Wilson will make his second look within the occasion, however will probably be his first time competing on the Ally Pally having beforehand performed in Milton Keynes in the course of the pandemic and he’s rated because the 33/1 outsider within the outright betting market.
When is it? Sunday, January twelfth at 7pm UTC
Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui
Mark Allen has been a constant winner on the World Snooker Tour since profitable his maiden main title on the 2018 Masters.
Challenger Si Jiahui will likely be searching for that sort of profession breakthrough second when he enters the occasion for the primary time subsequent week.
The 22 year-old from China was a runner-up in two rating occasions final yr and is a rising star within the sport who isn’t afraid of the massive events.
When is it? Tuesday, January 14th at 7pm UTC
Mark Selby vs Ali Carter
Mark Selby reached 5 Masters finals between 2008 and 2014, profitable three titles, however since then he has performed poorly within the match.
In truth, he has did not even attain a semi-final within the final decade, and he faces a troublesome process in his opening tie in opposition to Ali Carter.
The latter went all the way in which to the ultimate twelve months in the past, the place he was narrowly denied success by O’Sullivan.
When is it? Monday, January thirteenth at 7pm UTC
Judd Trump vs Barry Hawkins
Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins have been paired collectively when the 2025 Masters draw was carried out throughout their UK Championship last a month in the past.
Two-time Masters winner Trump – the 11/4 favorite within the outright betting – nearly obtained the higher of his fellow Englishman on that day in York.
Hawkins, although, has loads of pedigree on these sorts of levels and is a twice former Masters runner-up himself.
When is it? Tuesday, January 14th at 1pm UTC
Mark Williams vs Ding Junhui
The match between Mark Williams and Ding Junhui provides snooker followers one other possible humdinger to get pleasure from.
Just like the Higgins versus Robertson conflict, this one represents a battle between two former champions of the occasion.
Williams and Ding are additionally each winners from this time period already, with the Welshman prevailing on the Champion of Champions and Ding returning to the champions’ enclosure on the Worldwide Championship.
When is it? Monday, January thirteenth at 1pm UTC
Luca Brecel vs Chris Wakelin
Luca Brecel has the expertise, the upper seeding, and the titles, but it surely’s debatable whether or not or not he ought to be thought of the favorite in opposition to debutant Chris Wakelin.
It has been a meteoric stand up the world rankings from Wakelin within the final couple of years, and the 32 year-old is absolutely deserving of his spot on this elite lineup.
Brecel has solely as soon as gained a match on the Masters, and it’s tough to foretell which model of the Belgian Bullet will flip up.
When is it? Wednesday, January fifteenth at 7pm UTC
Kyren Wilson vs Zhang Anda
Kyren Wilson has already loved a powerful season as the game’s world champion, including two extra rating titles to his rising assortment.
The Kettering cueist would love so as to add the celebrated Masters crown, although, and his inventory is mirrored in the truth that he is among the betting favourites in 2025.
Zhang Anda made his Masters debut a yr in the past and struggled a bit with the event however could possibly be higher ready to problem this time round.
When is it? Wednesday, January fifteenth at 1pm UTC
Featured picture credit score: WST
