The Masters is one of the most famous tournaments in all of snooker, part of Snooker’s fabled triple crown, everyone wants to get their hands on the tournament's famous glass trophy and add their names to the history books.
Reserved for just the top sixteen players in the world by the time that the cut off for the tournament takes place, it is a tournament that sees the best of the best take each other on straight away.
Held at the iconic Alexandra Palace, the tournament signals the start of the new calendar year and there are several players who will hope to start 2025 with a bang and announce themselves as real contenders for the World Championships that will start in May.
Let’s take a look at some of the main contenders.
Judd Trump
2024 was one of Judd Trump’s most successful as a professional as he pulled away from the rest of the field and is rightfully viewed as the game’s undisputed number one.
Twice a winner of this tournament, the Englishman is looking for a hatrick of victories at Alexandra Palace and is also hoping to complete a second leg of victories in this season’s Triple Crown.
Having shown exactly why he is the sport’s top dog when he held his nerve to prevail at the UK Championship, Trump will start as the second seed at the Masters but he is the bookies favourite and the one player everyone else will need to beat.
His draw is certainly intriguing. He will open up with a match against Barry Hawkins, the man he edged past in the final of the UK Championship. If he can advance he will then have to face off against either Mark Williams or Ding Junhui before potentially squaring off against world number 2 in the semifinals.
There will be no fears over who he might come up against at Alexandra Palace and if Trump brings his best game, few will be able to stop him.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
It’s been a strange old season for Ronnie O’Sullivan, still right up there when it comes to the overall world rankings, O’Sullivan was unable to land a title in 2024 and the second half of the year was highlighted by him either losing early or withdrawing from several events.
He will hope to get his 2025 off to a much stronger start and the Masters is a great place for it to begin. The all-time leader when it comes to victories, O’Sullivan has eight Masters titles and will hope to land a ninth by the time that this year’s tournament draws to a close.
Seeded number one, he will square off against an opponent he knows exceptionally well in the shape of John Higgins who has won this title on two separate occasions.
The two are giants of the game and could well serve up a classic, however with Higgins only just scraping into this year’s tournament it is O’Sullivan who will start as the clear favourite.
If O’Sullivan can reach the quarterfinals a matchup against Shaun Murphy is likely to await. A potential mouthwatering clash against either Mark Allen or Mark Selby could take place in the semifinals.
A dream encounter against Judd Trump could only take place in the final and both men will have to be at their very best in order for that to happen.
Kyren Wilson
Kyren Wilson has already shocked the world of snooker when he was able to capture the 2024 World Championship and the Englishman will be after creating even more history at this year’s Masters.
The Masters hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the world number 2 as he is yet to capture this event but he will be hoping to flip the script at this year’s tournament.
He will open up his campaign against world number ten Anda Zhang, making this the first time since 2022 that the pair have faced off with Zhang leading the head to head 2-1.
Wilson is a different animal since the last contest between the two and he will have high hopes of a deep run. A quarterfinal against another World Champion in Luca Brecel could take place, before he could potentially face off against his rival Judd Trump in the semis.
A winner of the Northern Irish Open, Wilson has shown that he has the game to compete for years to come, he will want to start building his legacy and a win at the 2025 Masters could go a long way in helping build it.
Mark Allen
Completing the top four when it comes to the betting is Mark Allen. The world number four when it comes to the rankings, Allen was a recent winner in Riyadh and should head to Alexandra Palace high in confidence.
Although Allen is yet to land a World Championship that his talents deserve, he has tasted success in the Masters before, claiming victory back in 2018 when he edged out Kyren Wilson 10-7 in a back and forth final.
For years now Allen has been one of the major forces of the game but he often gets himself in the way with mental errors or getting himself involved in drama or spats that can distract.
Allen has never lacked confidence and that can take him a long way. Few will relish the prospect of facing the Northern Irishman in the early rounds and if you are looking to back a player at a decent price, Allen could well be your man.
Jonathan Ashby
Jonathan Ashby, at 35, boasts a deep well of knowledge about the world of snooker. A specialist with a passion for the game's history, techniques, and players, he provides invaluable insights to both novices and seasoned enthusiasts. Through his articles, Jonathan aims to share the rich tapestry and nuances of this beloved cue sport.
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