January 11th 2025.
As the snooker world eagerly awaits the start of the Masters at Alexandra Palace, the question on everyone's mind is who will take home the prestigious Paul Hunter Trophy this year? The historic event is celebrating its 50th year on the snooker calendar, making it a momentous occasion for both players and fans alike.
The very first Masters tournament took place back in 1975 at the West Centre Hotel in London. It was an unforgettable final as John Spencer narrowly defeated Ray Reardon 9-8 on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame. Since then, the tournament has undergone many changes, but one thing remains constant - its location in the capital at Ally Pally.
This year, however, there will be a noticeable absence on the green baize as reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was forced to withdraw on medical grounds. But fear not, as two-time champion Neil Robertson has been called up as his replacement. The Australian will kick off the tournament by facing off against John Higgins on Sunday afternoon.
With the Rocket out of the running, world number one Judd Trump is the bookmakers' favorite to lift the trophy for the third time. But he'll face tough competition from other top players such as world champion Kyren Wilson and former Masters winners Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, and Ding Junhui.
The Masters draw and schedule have been released, with some exciting matches lined up for the first few days. On Sunday, fans can look forward to the clash between Robertson and Higgins, followed by Shaun Murphy taking on Gary Wilson in the evening session. Monday will see Mark Williams facing off against Ding Junhui, while Mark Selby will take on Ali Carter in the evening.
Tuesday's matches will feature Judd Trump against Barry Hawkins and Mark Allen against Si Jiahui. On Wednesday, Kyren Wilson will take on Zhang Anda, and Luca Brecel will face Chris Wakelin in the evening session. The quarter-final draw will then see the winners of these matches going head to head for a chance to advance to the semi-finals.
With a total prize money of £350,000 for the winner, the stakes are high at the Masters. The runner-up will receive £140,000, while the semi-finalists will take home £75,000 each. Even those who make it to the last 16 will receive a significant amount of £25,000. And for the player who scores the highest break, there's a prize of £15,000.
For those unable to attend the event in person, the Masters will be broadcasted live on both the BBC and Eurosport/Discovery+. Fans can check the BBC and Eurosport websites for the schedule of the matches. And for those feeling lucky, Betfair has released their odds for the tournament, with Judd Trump as the favorite followed closely by Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby. But with the caliber of players in this year's field, it's anyone's game.
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