By Elliott West
Introduction
It only seems like yesterday that snooker fans were making their annual pilgrimage to Alexandra Palace to watch the battle of the top 16. Last year it ended with Judd Trump seizing the crown after a 10-8 victory over Mark Williams in the final, his second title here after first winning it in 2019. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this Triple Crown event, the first being held at the West Centre Hotel in London in 1975. That year John Spencer beat Ray Reardon 9-8 on a respotted black. A tournament that this year breaks off on Sunday with a clash of young guns between the reigning champion, Judd Trump and someone who is on the cusp of a title, his good friend, Jack Lisowski. Foes for the duration of this match with Judd Trump at 11/5 and Jack Lisowski at 11-1 to lift this year’s trophy. A match that Judd will have to win if he has any chance of retaining his title.
All Eyes On
With only the cream of the crop invited to this elite tournament, there is a feast of matches to savour. All eyes will be on Ronnie O’Sullivan as he takes on Ding Junhui in their Monday match. Both players spent Christmas in Macau and Tibet for a string of exhibition matches with Ronnie getting the better of Ding in Tibet despite suffering from altitude sickness. Ronnie ended Ding’s chances of another UK Championship crown in York last after defeating him 10-7 in the final. It will be interesting to see if Ding can build on his recent resurgence of form or if he is stopped in his tracks once again by this snooker Titan. At 9/4 and Ding at 10/1, Ronnie fans will be hoping that this first obstacle will be overturned and this London-loved player is on course for his eighth Masters title.
Mark Allen, whose last title was The Snooker Shootout, plays John Higgins on Wednesday. Allen won this title previously in 2018 when he beat Kyren Wilson 10-7 in the final. However, he is playing a Scot who has won this Triple Crown twice (1999 & 2006) and a finalist in 1995, 2005 and 2021. A formidable opponent who on his day can destroy anyone. This will be a tough clash and both players are demon potters when they get going with superb safety play. Mark Allen is priced at 7/1 with John Higgins at 15/2.
There are also some tough draws to be played. Mark Williams v Ali Carter, Mark Selby v Robert Milkins, Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins and the debutant Zhang Anda v Shaun Murphy. If their form spills over into 2024, I would expect Williams to get the better of Carter, Milkins to have a great chance of overturning Selby but only if he plays at the top of his game, and Hawkins to take out Robertson whose form has gone to pot and Zhang to make the headlines by beating Shaun Murphy.
Possible Winner
In any snooker tournament these days it is near on impossible to predict the winner. However, in this year’s Masters, you have to fancy either Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby or Judd Trump to claim the Masters crown. Don’t eliminate Zhang Anda from the equation either because I have a feeling that he could be the spanner in the works and cause a surprise. Whoever wins, will have to battle their way through the tense atmosphere of the Alexandra Palace and the roar of the London-dominated audience. A perfect start to a tournament now in its 50th year.
Masters Draw
Sunday, January 7
- 1 pm: Luca Brecel v Jack Lisowski
- 7 pm: Shaun Murphy v Zhang Anda
Monday, January 8
- 1 pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ding Junhui
- 7 pm: Mark Williams v Ali Carter
Tuesday, January 9
- 1 pm: Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson
- 7 pm: Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins
Wednesday, January 10
- 1 pm: Mark Allen v John Higgins
- 7 pm: Mark Selby v Robert Milkins
QUARTER-FINALS
Thursday, January 11
- 1 pm: QF3 – O’Sullivan or Ding v Robertson or Hawkins
- 7 pm: QF4 – Brecel or Lisowski v Murphy or Zhang
Friday, January 12th
- 1 pm: QF1 – Trump or Wilson v Williams or Carter
- 7 pm: QF2 – Allen or Higgins v Selby or Milkins
Semi-Finals
Saturday, January 13
- 1 pm: Winner of QF3 v Winner of QF4
- 7 pm: Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF2
Final
Sunday, January 14
- 1 pm and 7 pm
