Who is making their Masters snooker debut in 2025 at the Alexandra Palace?

Only the world's top 16 ranked snooker stars are invited to the Masters, which will be hosting its 51st edition in 2025, 50 years on from its inaugural staging when John Spencer pipped Ray Reardon on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame of the final.

The criteria, format and venue have changed a few times down the years, but the Masters has always casted an elite field. Every year since 2012 (with the exception of 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions) the iconic and atmospheric Alexandra Palace in London has been the home of the Masters - and it feels oh so right there.

For a potted history of the Masters, please visit here.

The stakes have been raised even higher in 2025, with a record prize fund of over £1 million, and a winner's purse of £350,000 - currently the third highest first prize on the World Snooker Tour professional circuit, only behind the half-a-million that is dished out to the winner of the Saudi Masters, and the World Championship.

Qualification for the 2025 Masters Snooker was confirmed following the completion of the 2024 UK Championship in York in early December. The top 16 players from the world rankings following that tournament all earned invites to the 'Ally Pally'.

Who are the players making their Masters snooker debuts in 2025?

Si Jiahui and Chris Wakelin are both set to make their maiden Masters appearances this January.

Chinese youngster Si heads into the 2025 Masters as the world number 13.

The 22-year-old thrust himself into snooker stardom during the 2023 World Championship at the Crucible Theatre, when as a qualifier, he made it all the way to the semi-finals and the one-table set-up in Sheffield.

Threatening to break Stephen Hendry's record as the sport's youngest-ever world champion, Si suffered agony in the last four when he lost to eventual title winner Luca Brecel 17-15, having been 14-5 up at one stage.

Despite that heartbreak, though, Si has continued to blossom on the sport's premier circuit, reaching his maiden ranking event finals in 2024 at the German Masters and the Wuhan Open. In the latter event, Si dispatched world number one Judd Trump in the last four with a sparkling display which included his first maximum 147 break in professional competition.

Earlier this season, Si also got to the semis of the Saudi Masters.

At the Alexandra Palace, Si will face 2018 champion Mark Allen in the opening round, with their match scheduled for the evening session of Tuesday 14th January.

The other Masters newbie is Wakelin, who will arrive in North London as the world number 15.

Wakelin has found fantastic consistency on the pro tour over the past 24 months and his invitation is richly-deserved.

The 32-year-old - who first turned pro in 2013 - claimed his maiden ranking event title at the 2023 Snooker Shoot Out (January edition) and has built on that success with runs to the final of the 2023 Northern Ireland Open, and the 2024 International Championship.

The Englishman's Masters bow will come in the final opening round match to be played when he faces 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel on the evening of Wednesday 15th January.

Gary Wilson to make his Alexandra Palace debut

He won't be making his Masters debut, but world number 16 Gary Wilson will be playing in the Alexandra Palace cauldron for the first time when he meets Shaun Murphy in round one on the opening night of Sunday 12th January.

In 2021 - as the then world number 19 - Wilson received a late Masters call-up following the withdrawals of both Judd Trump and Jack Lisowski due to positive Covid-19 test results, and because of Anthony McGill declining his substitute invite.

Held behind-closed-doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, Wilson lost 6-2 to Kyren Wilson in the first round; his first ever Masters match.

Wilson has had to wait four years to get back into the Masters fold, and the three-time ranking event champion - who reached the one-table at the Crucible in 2019 - will relish performing on another one of snooker’s biggest stages for the first time.

For the full 2025 Masters snooker draw, latest results, and full match schedule, please visit here.