The 2025 Masters commenced on Sunday with world number one Judd Trump and world champion Kyren Wilson headlining the draw.
Sixteen of the best players in the world will cue up once again at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London.
This year’s Masters falls on the 50th anniversary of the prestigious invitational’s inaugural edition way back in 1975.
John Spencer memorably beat rival Ray Reardon 9-8 on a re-spotted black in the final, and the tournament has generated umpteen dramatic moments since.
As part of the Triple Crown series and always boasting the most elite lineup from the world rankings, the Masters is widely considered snooker’s second-biggest prize to win.
In the last half-century, most of the game’s iconic players have managed to etch their names onto the trophy.
The esteemed list includes the likes of Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, Cliff Thorburn, and Paul Hunter.
Eight former champions are back in the draw for the 2025 Masters, but the lineup doesn’t include record winner Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The eight-time champion withdrew on the eve of the event on Friday citing medical grounds.
In 2025, there is a record prize fund available with a whopping £350,000 going to the champion in the English capital city.
2025 Masters Prize Money
Champion: £350,000
Runner-up: £140,000
Semi-Finals: £75,000
Quarter-Finals: £40,000
Round of 16: £25,000
Highest Break: £15,000
Total: £1,015,000
Who is in the 2025 Masters draw?
Reigning champion O’Sullivan had been expected to bid for a record-extending ninth Masters title this month.
But a repeat match-up of the 1995, 2005, and 2006 finals against John Higgins won’t materialise in the first round after the Rocket opted to withdraw from the tournament.
Fellow former champion Neil Robertson will instead encounter Higgins, the Australian dangerously now with nothing to lose and everything to gain after being gifted a last-gasp opportunity to participate.
The Masters always throws up ties that would be worthy of finals, and among the other blockbuster battles to look forward to is the fixture between two ex-champions in Mark Williams and Ding Junhui.
Ali Carter, who came just short last season when he was edged out to glory by O’Sullivan, will face three-time champion Mark Selby.
World champion Kyren Wilson’s first test will be against Zhang Anda, while Mark Allen entertains one of the two debutants in Si Jiahui.
The other first-timer will be Chris Wakelin, whose reward for a two-year period in which he has broken into the elite echelons is a meeting with the struggling Luca Brecel.
Pre-tournament betting favourite Judd Trump, meanwhile, is tasked with overcoming the same player he beat to win the recent UK Championship – Barry Hawkins.
Gary Wilson challenges 2015 Masters champion Shaun Murphy in the remaining tie of the draw.
2025 Masters draw and schedule
(Times in UTC)
Round of 16 (bo11)
Neil Robertson 6-5 John Higgins
Shaun Murphy 6-3 Gary Wilson
Mark Allen 6-2 Si Jiahui
Mark Selby 6-1 Ali Carter
Judd Trump 6-1 Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams 5-6 Ding Junhui
Luca Brecel 6-3 Chris Wakelin
Kyren Wilson 6-4 Zhang Anda
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Neil Robertson 2-6 Shaun Murphy
Mark Allen 6-2 Mark Selby
Judd Trump 6-3 Ding Junhui
Luca Brecel 4-6 Kyren Wilson
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Shaun Murphy 6-3 Mark Allen
Judd Trump 3-6 Kyren Wilson
Final (bo19)
Shaun Murphy 10-7 Kyren Wilson
How to watch the 2025 Masters
There are several options available for snooker fans around the world to watch the 2025 Masters. The full list of broadcasters is below:
UK and Ireland
BBC, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
Europe (including UK and Ireland)
Eurosport and discovery
China
CCTV5
Huya.com
CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel (pay-per-view)
CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyi
Hong Kong China
Now TV
Malaysia and Brunei
Astro SuperSport
Thailand
True Vision
Taiwan
Sportcast
Philippines
Premier Sports Network
All other territories
WST Play
Featured photo credit: WST
