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Home / Snooker / 2026 Masters Snooker Preview, Schedule & Draw - £1,015,000 up for grabs in the Triple Crown event

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2026 Masters Snooker Preview, Schedule & Draw - £1,015,000 up for grabs in the Triple Crown event

Quick Read

  • 2026 Masters Snooker: Jan 11-18 at Alexandra Palace.
  • Elite 16-player field based on post-UK Championship rankings.
  • Shaun Murphy defends title
Gary Emmerson
Written by Gary Emmerson
Sports Editor • 30+ Years Experience In Sports & Betting
Updated:
mark selby

Mark Selby (Getty Images)


The 2026 Masters Snooker is taking place from January 11-18 as the 52nd edition of the Triple Crown event.

The second Triple Crown event of the season takes place at Alexandra Palace across eight days. 

The tournament is one of the most prestigous on the calendar and features an elite field of the top 16 in the world rankings.

Qualification is based on the rankings after the UK Championship, although Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn and been replaced by Chris Wakelin.

Shaun Murphy is the defending champion after victory over Kyren Wilson in the 2025 final at Ally Pally.

Masters Snooker Schedule & Format


StageDate
Round 1January 11-14
Quarter-FinalsJanuary 15-16
Semi-FinalsJanuary 17
FinalJanuary 18


Masters Snooker Draw


The main draw features the top 16 in the world rankings after the 2025 UK Championship, which was the first of the Triple Crown events of the season.

There is one change to the qualified field with Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrawing and being replaced by Chris Wakelin. 

The draw was based on those rankings with number one facing the 16th ranked and so one. The full draw is: 

  • Shaun Murphy vs Wu Yize
  • Mark Selby vs Xiao Guodong
  • Neil Robertson vs Chris Wakelin
  • Kyren Wilson vs Si Jiahui
  • Judd Trump vs Ding Junhui
  • Mark Williams vs Mark Allen
  • John Higgins vs Barry Hawkins
  • Zhao Xintong vs Gary Wilson

Masters Snooker Prize Money



Position
Prize Money
Winner£350,000
Runner-up£140,000
Semi-Finals£75,000
Quarter-Finals £40,000
First Round£25,000
Highest Break£15,000

Gary Emmerson
Gary Emmerson

Sports Editor • 30+ Years Experience In Sports & Betting

Gary has been writing about sport for more than 30 years and graduated with a degree in media and journalism from the University of Bedfordshire.


He has worked for newspapers including the Daily Telegraph, agencies including Reuters and many online sites covering a range of sports including Atlas F1 and Bleacher Report.

A senior editor, he covers all major sports, betting industry news from across the world and loves a weekend bet.

Follow Gary on Muckrack, X or Linkedin

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