One of the highlights of the snooker season starts on Sunday afternoon as the Masters gets underway at Alexandra Palace.
Many in the game class the non-ranking event as the second biggest tournament on the calendar, with the £250,000 top prize making it not just prestigious but a potentially life-changing competition to win.
Yan Bingtao caused a hefty upset last year when he won the Masters on his debut in the competition, beating John Higgins in the final.
The Tiger will look to keep up his unbeaten record in the event when he opens up the tournament against two-time winner Mark Williams on Sunday.
When is the Masters?
The event runs from Sunday 9 – Sunday 16 January at Alexandra Palace.
How to watch the Masters
The BBC and Eurosport will be showing the tournament. BBC coverage will be across BBC One, BBC Two the red button and on iPlayer and their website, with a full schedule here.
The Masters first round draw and schedule
Sunday 9 January
1pm: Yan Bingtao vs Mark Williams
7pm: Neil Robertson vs Anthony McGill
Monday 10 January
1pm: John Higgins vs Luca Brecel/Zhao Xintong
7pm: Shaun Murphy vs Barry Hawkins
Tuesday 11 January
1pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Jack Lisowski
7pm: Mark Selby vs Stephen Maguire
Wednesday 12 January
1pm: Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
7pm: Kyren Wilson vs Stuart Bingham
Masters prize money
Winner: £250,000
Runner-up: £100,000
Semi-finals: £60,000
Quarter-finals: £30,000
Last 16: £15,000
Highest break: £15,000
The Masters odds
Judd Trump 7/2
Ronnie OSullivan 9/2
Mark Selby 5/1
Neil Robertson 5/1
John Higgins 8/1
Kyren Wilson 14/1
Mark Allen 18/1
Yan Bingtao 18/1
Shaun Murphy 22/1
Zhao Xintong 22/1
Mark Williams 33/1
Stuart Bingham 33/1
Barry Hawkins 33/1
Jack Lisowski 45/1
Stephen Maguire 50/1
Anthony McGill 66/1
Pre-tournament odds courtesy of Betfair
MORE : Snooker’s ‘changing of the guard’ will be given an acid test at the Masters
MORE : WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson gives the latest on German Masters, first round prize money, disciplinaries and more
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