The Masters is one of the most glamorous and celebrated tournaments in professional snooker. As one of the three Triple Crown events — alongside the UK Championship and the World Snooker Championship — it carries enormous prestige. Unlike ranking events, The Masters is an invitation-only tournament contested by the top 16 players in the world rankings, meaning only the very best players in the game participate. First held in 1975, it has been played at Alexandra Palace in north London since 2011 and is beloved for its electric atmosphere and compact, high-quality format.
With a prize fund of £750,000, The Masters offers some of the richest rewards outside of the World Championship and regularly produces some of the finest snooker of the season. The invitation-only format means every match features elite players, and the best-of-11-frames knockout structure ensures tension from the very first session.
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace — affectionately known as "Ally Pally" — is a Victorian-era entertainment and events venue situated on a hill in north London, with sweeping views across the city. The arena used for The Masters holds approximately 2,700 spectators, creating one of the most atmospheric settings in the snooker calendar. The crowd at Ally Pally is famously passionate, knowledgeable, and vocal — a stark contrast to the hushed reverence of the Crucible — and players frequently cite it as one of the most thrilling venues in which to compete.
The venue's grand Victorian architecture and the roar of a near-capacity crowd when a big break is compiled or a crucial safety is won make Alexandra Palace an unmistakable backdrop for snooker's midwinter showpiece. Tickets for The Masters consistently sell out months in advance.
Tournament Format
The Masters uses a straightforward 16-player straight knockout format. The top 16 players in the world rankings at the time of the draw are invited to participate. There are no qualifying rounds — every match takes place at Alexandra Palace. The draw is seeded, with the world number one guaranteed to be on the opposite side of the draw from the world number two.
The number of frames per round is as follows:
- First Round (Last 16): Best of 11 frames
- Quarter-Finals: Best of 11 frames
- Semi-Finals: Best of 11 frames
- Final: Best of 19 frames
Two matches are played each day during the earlier rounds. The semi-finals and final each take centre stage on dedicated days. The final is an evening showcase event, beginning under the famous Ally Pally lights with a full house in attendance.
Prize Money
The 2026 Masters prize fund totalled £750,000. The breakdown was as follows:
| Round | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | £250,000 |
| Runner-up | £100,000 |
| Semi-finalists (x2) | £50,000 each |
| Quarter-finalists (x4) | £25,000 each |
| First Round (x8) | £10,000 each |
| Total | £750,000 |
What Channel is The Masters On?
The Masters enjoys excellent television coverage in the UK, with the entire tournament broadcast live:
- BBC Two — Live coverage of both sessions each day, free to air. The BBC's long-standing partnership with The Masters means viewers can watch every frame without a subscription. Analysis, highlights, and studio discussion programmes accompany the live play.
- TNT Sports — Subscription coverage on TNT Sports channels and the discovery+ platform, offering additional programming and alternative commentary options.
- BBC iPlayer — Free online streaming of all BBC Two Masters coverage, available to UK viewers with a valid TV Licence via the iPlayer app and website.
Past Champions (2015–2026)
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Kyren Wilson | 10–7 |
| 2025 | Mark Selby | Zhao Xintong | 10–9 |
| 2024 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Judd Trump | 10–8 |
| 2023 | Judd Trump | Mark Allen | 10–6 |
| 2022 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Neil Robertson | 10–7 |
| 2021 | Neil Robertson | Mark Selby | 10–6 |
| 2020 | Stuart Bingham | Mark Allen | 10–8 |
| 2019 | Judd Trump | John Higgins | 10–5 |
| 2018 | Mark Allen | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 10–7 |
| 2017 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | Marco Fu | 10–7 |
| 2016 | Neil Robertson | Marco Fu | 10–9 |
| 2015 | Stuart Bingham | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 10–8 |
Records
- Most Masters titles: Ronnie O'Sullivan holds the record outright with 7 Masters titles, cementing his status as the tournament's greatest champion. His victories span multiple decades, with wins in 1995, 1996, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2022, and 2026.
- Youngest Masters champion: Stephen Hendry, who won the title in 1989 at just 19 years of age.
- Most Masters final appearances: Ronnie O'Sullivan leads this category as well, having appeared in numerous finals across his career.
- Highest break in a Masters final: Several maximum 147 breaks have been compiled during Masters week across all rounds.
- Triple Crown winners: Only a handful of players have won all three Triple Crown events — the UK Championship, The Masters, and the World Championship. O'Sullivan, Hendry, Mark Selby, and Judd Trump are among this elite group.