The 2020 Masters also known as the 2020 Dafabet Masters, is an upcoming professional non-ranking snooker tournament. It will take place between 12 and 19 January 2020 at the Alexandra Palace in London, England. The event is the 2nd of 3 Triple Crown events in the 2019-2020 season, following the 2019 UK Championship and preceding the 2020 World Snooker Championship. It will be the 46th staging of the Masters tournament, which was first held in 1975. All matches up to and including the Semi Finals are best of 11 frames, the Final will be best of 19 frames.
Judd Trump is the defending champion, as he claimed a comprehensive 10-4 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2019 final, ending an 8 year wait for a 2nd Triple Crown title after winning his first – the UK Championship – in 2011. He went on to complete the set of Triple Crown titles at the World Championship in May.
The Masters is generally contested by the world’s top 16 players but unfortunately 7 time winner O’Sullivan has chosen not to take part in this year’s event. Therefore his place has gone to world number 17 Ali Carter, who will be joining the rest of the contenders at the Alexandra Palace.
The winner of this year’s tournament, which is in its 47th year, will take home £250,000 in prize money out of a total prize pot of £725,000.
2020 Masters Schedule and TV Coverage
There will be a comprehensive live coverage on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TV, online and the BBC Sport app, as well as match highlights on the BBC Sport website for UK audiences.
First round (best of 11 frames)
Sunday, 12 January
13:00 – Ding Junhui (Chn) v Joe Perry (Eng) 13:00-17:15 – BBC Two
19:00 – Mark Selby (Eng) v Ali Carter (Eng) 19:00-23:00 – BBC Red Button
Monday, 13 January
13:00 – Neil Robertson (Aus) v Stephen Maguire (Sco) 13:00-16:45 – BBC Two
19:00 – Mark Allen (NI) v David Gilbert (Eng) 19:00-23:00 – BBC Red Button
Tuesday, 14 January
13:00 – Judd Trump (Eng) v Shaun Murphy (Eng) 13:00-16:45 – BBC Two
19:00 – John Higgins (Sco) v Barry Hawkins (Eng) 19:00-23:00 – BBC Red Button
Wednesday, 15 January
13:00 – Kyren Wilson (Eng) v Jack Lisowski (Eng) 13:00-16:45 – BBC Two
19:00 – Mark Williams (Wal) v Stuart Bingham (Eng) 19:00-23:00 – BBC Red Button
Quarter-finals (best of 11 frames)
Thursday, 16 January
13:00 – Ding/Perry v Selby/Carter 13:00-16:45 & 19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00 – Robertson/Maguire v Allen/Gilbert 19:00-23:00 – BBC Red Button
Friday, 17 January
13:00 – Trump/Murphy v Higgins/Hawkins 13:00-16:45 – BBC Two
19:00 – Wilson/Lisowski v Williams/Bingham 19:00-23:00 – BBC Red Button
Semi-finals (best of 11 frames)
Saturday, 18 January
13:00 – TBC v TBC 13:15-16:30 – BBC One
19:00 – TBC v TBC 16:30-17:30 & 19:00-23:00 – BBC Two
13:15-17:30 – Uninterrupted, BBC iPlayer, Connected TV & online
Final (best of 19 frames)
Eight frames in first session
Sunday, 19 January
13:00 & 19:00 – TBC v TBC 13:00-17:15 & 19:00-23:00 – BBC Two
Judd Trump will be defending his title
Betting Odds
The betting odds for each match according to Bet365.com is as follows:
Ding Junhui VS Joe Perry 1.44 2.75
Mark Selby VS Ali Carter 1.36 3.20
Neil Robertson VS Stephen Maguire 1.30 3.50
Mark Allen VS David Gilbert 1.57 2.37
Judd Trump VS Shaun Murphy 1.33 3.40
John Higgins VS Barry Hawkins 1.66 2.20
Kyren Wilson VS Jack Lisowski 1.66 2.20
Mark Williams VS Stuart Bingham 1.90 1.90
Masters Snooker 2020 Prize Money
The total prize money allocated for this year’s Masters contenders amounts to a whopping £725,000 and its distribution is mentioned below:
Winner: £250,000
Runner-up: £100,000
Semi-finals: £60,000
Quarter-finals: £30,000
Last 16: £15,000
Highest break: £15,000
Total: £725,000
Long Story Short
With everything said, Judd Trump will defending his title against 15 of the world’s best snooker players at the Alexandra Palace in London. The second Triple Crown event of the season is going to have to do without Ronnie O’Sullivan this year, since the Rocket pulled himself out of the event. Fortunately it has paved way for Ali Carter the lucky beneficiary of O’Sullivan’s decision and David Gilbert will be making his Masters debut this year. The World number one and defending champion still in the tournament, the event is sure to grab the world’s attention to north London.
1 Comment