2025 edition of The Masters runs from January 12-19 at London’s Alexandra Palace; defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan begins bid for ninth title against John Higgins; O’Sullivan and Higgins met in 1995, 2005 and 2006 finals; Judd Trump faces Barry Hawkins in UK Championship final rematch
Last Updated: 06/12/24 10:33am
Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the Masters a record eight times
Ronnie O’Sullivan will face John Higgins in the opening round of the 2025 Masters in January – 30 years after the snooker greats met in the final.
O’Sullivan beat Higgins 9-3 in 1995 to win the first of his record eight Masters titles, with the two then locking horns in two further finals at this prestigious event, in 2005 and 2006.
The Rocket routed Higgins 10-3 in 2005 but Higgins exacted revenge a year later, pipping his fellow ‘Class of ’92’ graduate 10-9 after a stunning clearance in the final frame.
O’Sullivan will play John Higgins in the opening round at Alexandra Palace
O’Sullivan enters the 2025 Masters at Alexandra Palace as defending champion after beating Ali Carter 10-7 in the 2024 final but is yet to make it past the semi-finals of any tournament this season.
The 48-year-old was knocked out in the first round of the recent UK Championship in York, an event won by world No 1 Judd Trump as he beat O’Sullivan’s conqueror Barry Hawkins 10-8.
Trump and Hawkins will meet again in the opening round of The Masters, which runs from January 12-19, while reigning world champion Kyren Wilson takes on Zhang Anda.
World No 1 Judd Trump won the UK Championship, beating Barry Hawkins in the final
Another standout tie pits two-time Masters champion Mark Willams up against 2011 winner Ding Junhui.
The Masters is an invitational event with the top 16 players in the world given places.
No ranking points are awarded but the tournament is one of the most treasured on the calendar and forms part of the Triple Crown, alongside the World Championship and UK Championship.
Round One (best of 11 frames)
Sunday January 12
1pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins
7pm
Shaun Murphy vs Gary Wilson
Monday January 13
1pm
Mark Williams vs Ding Junhui
7pm
Mark Selby vs Ali Carter
Tuesday January 14
1pm
Judd Trump vs Barry Hawkins
7pm
Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui
Wednesday January 15
1pm
Kyren Wilson vs Zhang Anda
7pm
Luca Brecel vs Chris Wakelin
Quarter-finals (best of 11 frames)
O’Sullivan/Higgins vs Murphy/G Wilson
Allen/Si vs Selby/Carter
Trump/Hawkins vs Williams/Ding
Brecel/Wakelin vs K Wilson/Zhang
