Match schedule for the first round of the 2025 Masters Snooker

The 2025 Masters takes place at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London between January 12-19. There is a record prize fund of over £1 million, with a top prize of £350,000.

Professional snooker’s most prestigious invitational features the world’s top 16 players from the rankings following the 2024 UK Championship. The top eight ranked players (top seeds) were randomly drawn against those positioned 9 to 16 in the standings.

This will be the 51st edition of the Masters, 50 years on from its inaugural staging in 1975 when John Spencer dramatically pipped Ray Reardon to the title on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame of the final to win 9-8.

2025 Masters Snooker: Order of play for the first round matches

As per tradition in recent years, the defending Masters champion will play in the opening match on the first Sunday afternoon of the tournament.

O’Sullivan - who came from behind to defeat Ali Carter 10-7 in the 2024 final - has a blockbuster opening assignment against fellow ‘Class of 92’ all-time great John Higgins.

The two have met each other three times in Masters finals; their first coming in 1995 when they were both teenagers.

On Sunday evening, former Masters champion Shaun Murphy faces Gary Wilson; the latter is making his debut at the Alexandra Palace. Wilson made his maiden Masters bow at the 2021 edition, although this was behind-closed-doors in Milton Keynes due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Three former Masters winners (Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby) and a two-time runner-up here (Carter) are all scheduled for action on Monday 13th.

World number one Judd Trump begins his latest pursuit for a hat-trick of Masters crowns against another two-time finalist here in the shape of Barry Hawkins on Tuesday afternoon. This match will be a rerun of their UK Championship final encounter from several weeks before.

Champion in 2018, Mark Allen faces one of two Masters debutants on Tuesday evening - Si Jiahui.

World Champion Kyren Wilson will be aiming for the second Triple Crown event title of his career here. ‘The Warrior’ is up against Zhang Anda - who is making his second Masters appearance - on Wednesday afternoon.

The final first round match features 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel against the other Masters debutant this year, Chris Wakelin.

The quarter-finals will take place across Thursday 16th and Friday 17th, with semi-finals Saturday set for the 18th. All matches at the 2025 Masters are the best-of-11 frames, except the two session final on Sunday 19th which is the best of 19 frames.

Sunday 12th January

• 13:00 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v John Higgins
• 19:00 - Shaun Murphy v Gary Wilson

Monday 13th January

• 13:00 - Mark Williams v Ding Junhui
• 19:00 - Mark Selby v Ali Carter

Tuesday 14th January

• 13:00 - Judd Trump v Barry Hawkins
• 19:00 - Mark Allen v Si Jiahui

Wednesday 15th January

• 13:00 - Kyren Wilson v Zhang Anda
• 19:00 - Luca Brecel v Chris Wakelin

(All times above are GMT)

The full draw bracket for the 2025 Masters:

• Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) v John Higgins (15)
• Shaun Murphy (8) v Gary Wilson (11)
• Mark Allen (5) v Si Jiahui (14)
• Mark Selby (4) v Ali Carter (12)
• Judd Trump (3) v Barry Hawkins (13)
• Mark Williams (6) v Ding Junhui (9)
• Luca Brecel (7) v Chris Wakelin (16)
• Kyren Wilson (2) v Zhang Anda (10)

Seeding positions in brackets