Mon. Sep 30th, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Venue: Alexandra Palace, London Dates: 7-14 January
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; live text coverage of the final on Sunday 14 January

The 2024 Masters – the second of this season’s Triple Crown events – gets under way at Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday, 7 January and you can watch live coverage across the BBC.

There is live action from every round on BBC TV and you can watch uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport mobile app, with additional coverage on BBC Red Button.

World champion Luca Brecel gets the 50th Masters under way on Sunday afternoon when he plays Jack Lisowski for a place in the last eight.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan, who beat Ding Junhui to win the UK Championship in December, opens his bid for an eighth Masters crown against Ding on Monday.

Defending champion Judd Trump fought back to beat Mark Williams 10-8 in last year’s final and he plays Kyren Wilson on Tuesday.

World number three Mark Allen faces John Higgins in Wednesday’s opening match.

China’s Zhang Anda, winner of the International Championship in November, is the only Masters debutant this year.

Only the top 16 players in the world rankings at the conclusion of the UK Championship will compete.

The World Championship, which starts in April, is the third Triple Crown event.

50th Masters tournament

Paul Hunter
Paul Hunter was Masters champion in 2001, 2002 and 2004, winning all three finals 10-9

First held in 1975 at the West Centre Hotel in London, the non-ranking invitational tournament will take place for the 50th time this year.

England’s John Spencer beat Ray Reardon on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame of the inaugural final to be crowned the first Masters champion.

Ronnie O’Sullivan holds the record for most titles with seven. He became the youngest winner at the age of 19 with his first triumph in 1995, but has not won the title since 2017 when the trophy became known as the Paul Hunter Trophy in memory of the three-time champion who died from cancer in 2006 at the age of 27.

Recent winners

Year Winner Runner-up Result
2018 Mark Allen Kyren Wilson 10-7
2019 Judd Trump Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-4
2020 Stuart Bingham Ali Carter 10-8
2021 Yan Bingtao John Higgins 10-8
2022 Neil Robertson Barry Hawkins 10-4
2023 Judd Trump Mark Williams 10-8

Most Masters titles

7 Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 Stephen Hendry
3 Mark Selby
3 Cliff Thorburn
3 Steve Davis
3 Paul Hunter

Format and prize money

All matches are the best of 11 frames except for the final on 14 January, which is played over 19 frames and two sessions.

There is only one match per session and a maximum of two matches per day.

The winner will receive £250,000 and the runner-up £100,000. There is a prize of £15,000 for the highest break.

Match schedule, BBC coverage & results

All times are GMT. Coverage times are subject to late changes. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made.

First round

Sunday, 7 January

13:00

Luca Brecel 2-6 Jack Lisowski

19:00

Shaun Murphy v Zhang Anda

Live coverage

13:00-17:15, BBC Two

13:00-23:00, uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

17:10-18:00 and 19:00-23:00, BBC Red Button

Highlights

00:25-01:15, BBC Two

Extra

01:15-03:15, BBC Two

Monday, 8 January

13:00

Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ding Junhui

19:00

Mark Williams v Ali Carter

Live coverage

13:00-16:15, BBC Two

13:00-23:00, uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

19:00-23:00, BBC Red Button

Highlights

23:15-00:05, BBC Two

Extra

00:05-02:05, BBC Two

Tuesday, 9 January

13:00

Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson

19:00

Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins

Live coverage

13:00-16:15, BBC Two

13:00-23:00, uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

19:00-23:00, BBC Red Button

Highlights

23:15-00:05, BBC Two

Extra

00:05-02:05, BBC Two

Wednesday, 10 January

13:00

Mark Allen v John Higgins

19:00

Mark Selby v Robert Milkins

Live coverage

13:00-16:15, BBC Two

13:00-23:00, uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

19:00-23:00, BBC Red Button

Highlights

23:15-00:05, BBC Two

Extra

00:05-02:05, BBC Two

Quarter-finals

Thursday, 11 January

13:00

QF3 O’Sullivan or Ding v Robertson or Hawkins

19:00

QF4 Brecel or Lisowski v Murphy or Zhang

Live coverage

13:00-16:15 & 19:00-20:00, BBC Two

13:00-23:00, uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

20:00-22:00, BBC Four

22:00-23:00, BBC Red Button

Highlights

23:15-00:05, BBC Two

Extra

00:05-02:05, BBC Two

Friday, 12 January

13:00

QF1 Trump or Wilson v Williams or Carter

19:00

QF2 Allen or Higgins v Selby or Milkins

Live coverage

13:00-16:15 & 19:00-20:00, BBC Two

13:00-23:00, uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

20:00-22:00, BBC Four

22:00-23:00: BBC Red Button

Highlights

23:05-23:55, BBC Two

Extra

23:55-01:55, BBC Two

Semi-finals

Saturday, 13 January

13:00

Winner of QF3 v Winner of QF4

19:00

Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF2

Live coverage

13:15-17:30, BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:30, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

Extra

23:55-01:55, BBC Two

Final

Sunday, 14 January

Live coverage

13:00-16:15 & 19:00-22:00, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

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