The 2025 Snooker London Masters will kick off at 21:00 Beijing time on January 12th at Alexandra Palace in North London, England, culminating in the championship title on the 19th.
On December 2nd, 2024, Beijing time, Trump defeated Barry Hawkins 10-8 in the UK Championship final, winning his second UK Championship title after 13 years. This victory not only earned him a £250,000 prize but also solidified his position as world number one.
Following the UK Championship, the top sixteen players in the world rankings were determined:
Trump, Kyren Wilson, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Mark Allen, Luca Brecel, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, John Higgins, Ali Carter, Si Jiahui, Barry Hawkins, Gary Wilson, and Chris Wakelin have all secured their spots at Alexandra Park.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, last season's defending champion, won his eighth Masters title and his twenty-third major title by reversing a 10-7 victory over Ali Carter in the Masters final last season. He is just one World Championship title away from completing his eighth Grand Slam!
The Snooker London Masters is an important event in the snooker professional tour, ranking as the most important invitational event alongside the World Championship and the UK Championship as the three major snooker events. As the only invitational event among the three majors, it has been held since 1945, with its massive influence second only to the World Championship. The event invites only the top 16 ranked players in the world, boasting high standards, generous prize money, and significant influence.
The prize money for this year's 2025 Snooker Masters has seen a significant increase, with the champion's prize rising from £250,000 to £350,000; the runner-up's prize increasing from £100,000 to £140,000, and the first-round prize jumping from £15,000 to £25,000, enhancing the appeal of the event.
Format:
First round to quarter-finals: Best of 11 frames
Semi-finals: Best of 11 frames
Final: Best of 19 frames
Venue:
Alexandra Palace, North London
In this tournament, China's team, consisting of Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, and Si Jiahui, will compete. All three are TOP16 players, with Ding Junhui ranked ninth in the world, Zhang Anda tenth, and Si Jiahui thirteenth. This will be Si Jiahui's first participation in the event.
Additionally, Ding Junhui won his first Masters title in the 2011 Masters final, defeating Marco Fu 10-4.
The draw for the event is as follows:
Upper half:
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins
Shaun Murphy vs Gary Wilson
Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui
Mark Selby vs Ali Carter
Lower half:
Trump vs Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams vs Ding Junhui
Brecel vs Chris Wakelin
Kyren Wilson vs Zhang Anda
Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is seeded first and guards the upper half, while world number one Trump guards the lower half. China's Si Jiahui is placed in the upper half and will face Mark Allen. Ding Junhui and Zhang Anda are in the lower half, facing Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson respectively. The Chinese trio will undoubtedly face tough battles against their formidable opponents!
We look forward to outstanding performances from China's team, Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, and Si Jiahui, in this event. Go for it!