Masters (snooker)

The tournament was held for the first time in 1975 at the West Centre Hotel in London, when ten leading players were invited. The event was sponsored by the cigarette company Benson & Hedges. John Spencer won the inaugural tournament by defeating Ray Reardon 9–8, winning the deciding frame on a re-spotted black.{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-05-19 |title=Reardon And Spencer - A Great Rivalry |url=https://wst.tv/reardon-and-spencer-a-great-rivalry/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727222629/https://wst.tv/reardon-and-spencer-a-great-rivalry/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2021 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=World Snooker |language=en-US}} The following year the event moved to the New London Theatre and in 1979 to the Wembley Conference Centre.

In 1981 the number of invited players was increased to 12, then increased again to 16 in 1983.

From 1984 onwards the top 16 players in the world rankings were automatically invited to the tournament. In 1984, Kirk Stevens became the first player to make a maximum break at the event against Jimmy White in the semi-final.{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Maximum Breaks |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Max.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210111304/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Max.html |archive-date=10 February 2013|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=20 January 2012}} In 1988, Mike Hallett became the first and to date only player to be whitewashed in a Masters final, losing 0–9 to Steve Davis. Stephen Hendry maintained an unbeaten record in the event, a run which included five successive championship victories, from his first appearance in 1989 until his defeat by Alan McManus in a final-frame decider in the 1994 final. Hallett reached his second final in four years in 1991, but lost 8–9 against Hendry, despite leading 7–0 and 8–2. This defeat effectively ended Hallett's days as a major force in the game.

In 1990 the sponsors introduced two wild-cards, granted by the game's governing body at their discretion, who would play wild-card matches against the players seeded 15th and 16th for a place in the first round of the tournament. The Benson & Hedges Championship was introduced for the 1991 tournament; the winner was granted one of the two wild-card places at that season's Masters tournament, while the other wild-card place continued to be granted by the governing body.

In the 1997 final, Steve Davis defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan in a match disrupted by a streaker.{{cite web|title=The Masters – A Potted History|url=http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-masters-history.asp|publisher=Global Snooker|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705012700/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-masters-history.asp|archive-date=5 July 2011|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}} Davis came back from 4–8 down to win the remaining six frames in a row, clinching the final at 10–8.{{cite web|title=Benson & Hedges Masters 1996|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/bh_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181943/http://www.snooker.org/trn/9697/bh_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The 1998 final went down to a re-spotted black in the deciding frame; Mark Williams defeated Stephen Hendry 10–9 after having trailed 6–9.{{cite web|title=Williams is the Master|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SNOOKER%3A+WILLIAMS+IS+THE+MASTER.-a097478883|publisher=Liverpool Daily Post (archived on TheFreeDictionary.com|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201162557/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SNOOKER%3A+WILLIAMS+IS+THE+MASTER.-a097478883|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Benson & Hedges Masters 1998|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9798/bm98_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181948/http://www.snooker.org/trn/9798/bm98_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} In the 2000 final, Ken Doherty missed the final black in a 147 attempt,{{cite news|last=Dee|first=John|title=Doherty misses out on his maximum|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2357450/Doherty-misses-out-on-his-maximum.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=20 January 2012|location=London|date=30 March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312015710/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/2357450/Doherty-misses-out-on-his-maximum.html|archive-date=12 March 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} the first time this had happened in competition. Doherty eventually lost to Matthew Stevens.{{cite web|title=Benson & Hedges Masters 2000|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/9900/bm2000_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181958/http://www.snooker.org/trn/9900/bm2000_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

File:Masters trophy 2012.JPG]]

After 2003, Benson & Hedges ended their sponsorship of the Masters tournament due to UK restrictions on tobacco advertising. The 2004 event was not sponsored. Rileys Club sponsored the event in 2005. There was no separate qualifying competition for the 2005 event, both wild-card places being awarded by the governing body, but the qualifying event returned the following season.{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Benson & Hedges Championship, Masters Qualifying Tournament |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/masqual.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155348/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/masqual.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|work=cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk|publisher=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=1 March 2011}} SAGA Insurance took over sponsorship of the Masters in 2006 and agreed a deal later the same year to sponsor the event until 2009.{{cite web|title=SAGA Insurance sign until 2009|url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/160614/saga-insurance-sign-until-2009|publisher=SportBusiness International Online|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430112032/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/160614/saga-insurance-sign-until-2009|archive-date=30 April 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The tournament was held at the Wembley Conference Centre for the last time in 2006, before the venue was demolished months later to make way for redevelopment.{{cite news|title=Search on for new Masters venue|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4623064.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 January 2012|date=18 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102194450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4623064.stm|archive-date=2 November 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Following the death of Paul Hunter in October 2006,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6035879.stm|title=Hunter loses battle with cancer|date=9 October 2006|access-date=14 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221005450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6035879.stm|archive-date=21 December 2008|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Jimmy White led calls for the Masters trophy or tournament to be renamed in honour of Hunter, who had won the title three times in four years between 2001 and 2004.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6232319.stm|title=Hunter Masters tribute ruled out|last=Harlow|first=Phil|date=5 January 2007|access-date=14 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116223320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6232319.stm|archive-date=16 January 2007|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Hunter's widow Lindsey later expressed her wishes for the trophy to be renamed, claiming that "...everybody expected it. Every player I've spoken to, every fan, thought it would be a definite".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6255027.stm|title=Hunter's widow in Masters appeal|date=12 January 2007|access-date=14 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114214954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6255027.stm|archive-date=14 January 2007|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The sport's governing body, World Snooker, elected not to rename the trophy, making the following statement: "Our board unanimously agreed that the Paul Hunter Scholarship was the most fitting tribute. Just as Hunter himself rose swiftly through the amateur ranks, the scholarship will give a gifted young player the chance to fulfil his talent through elite training." It would be another nine years before the decision was taken to rename the trophy in honour of Hunter. On 20 April 2016, World Snooker announced the renaming of the trophy for the 2017 event, with chairman Barry Hearn stating that the organisation had "messed up" by not doing so sooner.{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Owen|title=Paul Hunter: Masters trophy renamed in honour of ex-champion|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/36095079|access-date=20 April 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420180845/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/36095079|archive-date=20 April 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

File:London Masters Arena.JPG during the 2012 event]]

Ronnie O'Sullivan appeared in four successive Masters finals from 2004 to 2007, winning the event in 2005 and 2007. Paul Hunter won the first of these four finals to claim his third Masters title in four years; recovering from 2–7 down, he made five century breaks on the way to a 10–9 victory.{{cite web|title=Masters 2004|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/m2004_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181901/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/m2004_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} O'Sullivan defeated John Higgins in the 2005 final with a decisive 10–3 scoreline.{{cite web|title=Rileys Club Masters 2005|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0405/m2005_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181908/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0405/m2005_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The pair met in the final again the following year, both players producing a very high standard of play throughout the match. O'Sullivan won the second and third frames with back-to-back total clearances of 138 and 139, but lost all of the next five frames. He made a break of 60 in the deciding frame, before Higgins took the opportunity to make a clearance of 64, winning the title on the black.{{cite web|title=SAGA Insurance Masters 2006|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0506/m2006_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181912/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0506/m2006_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=Higgins claims Masters thriller|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4637756.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 January 2012|date=23 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204033446/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4637756.stm|archive-date=4 February 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} However, O'Sullivan redeemed himself in 2007 by defeating Ding Junhui 10–3 in the final and then comforting the clearly upset youngster afterwards.{{cite web|title=SAGA Insurance Masters 2007|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0607/m2007_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181918/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0607/m2007_res.shtml|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=Superb Rocket beats Ding in final|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/6285217.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 January 2012|date=21 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117001723/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/6285217.stm|archive-date=17 January 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} A week earlier, Ding had become the second player to compile a maximum break at the Masters, in his match against Anthony Hamilton in the wild-card round.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6260923.stm|title=Ding compiles maximum at Masters|date=14 January 2007|access-date=14 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207225605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6260923.stm|archive-date=7 February 2007|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

The Masters was held at Wembley Arena for the first time in 2007.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6045262.stm|title=New Wembley home for the Masters|date=12 October 2006|access-date=14 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108125324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6045262.stm|archive-date=8 November 2006|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} In a slight change to the format, one extra discretionary wild-card place was awarded, bringing the total number of players up to 19.{{cite web|title=SAGA Insurance Masters 2007|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0607/m2007_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728034551/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0607/m2007_res.shtml|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} However, the original format with just two wild-card players was reinstated in 2008.{{cite web|title=SAGA Insurance Masters 2008|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0708/m2008_res.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728034713/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0708/m2008_res.shtml|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} SAGA Insurance pulled out of their sponsorship deal in the summer of 2008,{{cite web|title=Snooker suffers blow as sponsors pull out|url=http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/snooker-suffers-blow-as-sponsors-pull-out/2061891.article|work=Marketing Week|access-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193651/http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/snooker-suffers-blow-as-sponsors-pull-out/2061891.article|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} leaving the Masters unsponsored in 2009. PokerStars.com sponsored the event in 2010,{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/6941757/Masters-snooker-seals-sponsorship-deal.html|title=Masters snooker seals sponsorship deal|last=Garbett|first=Paul|date=6 January 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=6 January 2010|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109131339/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/6941757/Masters-snooker-seals-sponsorship-deal.html|archive-date=9 January 2010|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} and the 2011 sponsor was Ladbrokes Mobile.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2253477,00.html |title=Ladbrokes Mobile to sponsor Masters |date=27 December 2010 |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |access-date=27 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505183302/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2253477%2C00.html |archive-date=5 May 2013 }} The separate qualifying competition was not held for the 2011 event and the use of wild-cards was discontinued at the same time.{{cite web|title=The Masters 2011|url=http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-masters-snooker-from-wembley-2011.asp|publisher=Global Snooker|access-date=17 December 2010|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227132155/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-masters-snooker-from-wembley-2011.asp|archive-date=27 December 2010}} The 2011 final made history as it was the first to feature two Asian players.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2268031,00.html |title=Ding Sets Up Historic Final |date=14 January 2011 |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |access-date=16 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119055857/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2268031%2C00.html |archive-date=19 January 2011 }} Wembley Arena was used as the venue for the last time in 2011, after which the tournament moved to the Alexandra Palace in London.{{cite web|title=Masters Snooker Goes To Alexandra Palace|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2347264,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=27 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429214051/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2347264,00.html|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} BGC Partners sponsored the Masters in 2012,{{cite web|title=BGC Partners Sponsor The Masters |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2574503,00.html |work=worldsnooker.com |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |access-date=14 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115182956/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2574503%2C00.html |archive-date=15 January 2012 }} and the 2013 event was sponsored by Betfair.{{cite web|title=Betfair Sponsor The Masters|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2974046,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|date=8 November 2012|access-date=13 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105052111/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2974046,00.html|archive-date=5 January 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} From 2014 to 2020 the tournament was sponsored by Dafabet.{{cite web|title=Dafabet Sponsor The Masters Until 2017|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4291065,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|date=11 November 2014|access-date=11 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111165001/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4291065,00.html|archive-date=11 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} World Championship sponsor Betfred sponsored the Masters in 2021,{{Cite web|url=https://wst.tv/betfred-to-sponsor-the-masters/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107123112/https://wst.tv/betfred-to-sponsor-the-masters/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 January 2021|title=Betfred To Sponsor The Masters|publisher=World Snooker|date=7 January 2021}} and the 2022 tournament was sponsored by Cazoo for the first time.{{cite web|date=17 June 2021|title=Cazoo and Matchroom Expand Partnership Deal|url=https://wst.tv/cazoo-and-matchroom-expand-partnership-deal/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617103335/https://wst.tv/cazoo-and-matchroom-expand-partnership-deal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 June 2021|work=WST}}

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his seventh Masters title in 2017, overtaking Stephen Hendry's previous record of six.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/38710379 |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Joe Perry to win record seventh Masters title |first=Shamoon |last=Hafez |date=2017-01-22 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2020-04-16}} This was O'Sullivan's third Masters title in four years, having also won in 2014 and 2016. He reached the final again in 2019, extending his record number of appearances in the final to 13, in 25 overall appearances at the Masters tournament; however, he was outplayed by Judd Trump who claimed his first Masters title with a solid 10–4 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/51018896 |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan: Missing Masters a 'career mistake', says Barry Hearn |first=Owen|last=Phillips |date=2020-01-10 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2020-04-16}} O'Sullivan chose not to enter the tournament in 2020.

The format has been largely unchanged since 1984 and the tournament generally involves the leading 16 players in the world rankings. There was a wild-card round from 1990 to 2010.

The defending Masters champion is seeded 1 while the current World Champion is seeded 2 (assuming that it is a different player). The remaining places are then allocated to the top players in the world rankings, seeded in order of those rankings. Since the defending champion and current World Champion are normally ranked in the top 16, the field generally consists of the top 16 ranked players. The exceptions have been:

• In 2006, World Champion Shaun Murphy was ranked 21 so that Ian McCulloch, ranked 16, was not automatically invited. McCulloch was, however, the wild-card choice.
• In 2013, Stephen Lee, ranked 9, did not play because he was suspended{{cite web|title=WPBSA Statement – Stephen Lee Appeal Dismissed |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2958763,00.html |work=worldsnooker.com |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026045957/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2958763%2C00.html |archive-date=26 October 2012 }} and so Mark Davis, ranked 17, was invited. World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, ranked 20, chose not to enter.
• In 2014, World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was ranked 24 so that Graeme Dott, ranked 16, was not invited.
• In 2015, Ali Carter was seeded 13, despite being ranked 18, because of illness that had stopped him from playing for an extended period,{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4237654,00.html |title=Carter To Retain Top 16 Seeding |work=worldsnooker.com |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=22 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025012354/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~4237654%2C00.html |archive-date=25 October 2014 }} and so Graeme Dott, ranked 16, was not invited.
• In 2018, Stuart Bingham, ranked 12, did not play because he was suspended and so Liang Wenbo, ranked 17, was invited.
• In 2020, Ronnie O'Sullivan, ranked 3, chose not to enter and so Ali Carter, ranked 17, was invited.
• In 2021, Judd Trump and Jack Lisowski tested positive for COVID-19 and were forced to withdraw. They were replaced by Joe Perry, ranked 18, and Gary Wilson, ranked 19.{{Cite web |date=9 January 2021 |title=Trump and Lisowski test positive for COVID-19 |url=https://wst.tv/trump-and-lisowski-test-positive-for-covid-19/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110140403/https://wst.tv/trump-and-lisowski-test-positive-for-covid-19/ |archive-date=10 January 2021 |access-date=9 January 2021}} Anthony McGill, ranked 17, declined to travel to the event.
• In 2023, Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong were suspended amid a match-fixing investigation. David Gilbert and Hossein Vafaei, ranked 17th and 18th at the cutoff, replaced Yan and Zhao respectively.{{Cite web |title=Gilbert Joins Cazoo Masters Field |url=https://wst.tv/gilbert-joins-cazoo-masters-field |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227160839/https://wst.tv/gilbert-joins-cazoo-masters-field/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2022 |date=27 December 2022 |website=World Snooker Tour}}{{Cite web |title=Vafaei Joins Cazoo Masters Field |url=https://wst.tv/vafaei-joins-cazoo-masters-field/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105123523/https://wst.tv/vafaei-joins-cazoo-masters-field/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2023 |date=5 January 2023 |website=World Snooker Tour}}
• In 2025, Neil Robertson, ranked 17th, replaced defending champion and first seed Ronnie O'Sullivan who withdrew.{{cite web |title=Robertson Replaces O'Sullivan At Johnstone's Paint Masters |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january/10/robertson-replaces-o-sullivan-at-johnstone-s-paint-masters/ |website=World Snooker Tour |date=10 January 2025}}{{cite news|URL=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/articles/czj3y47j38vo |title=Defending champion O'Sullivan withdraws from Masters|date=10 January 2025|work=BBC Sport}}

In 1984, and from 1986 to 1990, the draw was determined by the seedings, with seed 1 playing seed 16, 2 playing 15, 3 playing 14, etc. A slightly different system was used in 1985. With the introduction of the wild-card round in 1990, this system meant that seeds 15 and 16 needed to win a match to reach the last 16, where they would immediately play either of the first two seeds, generally the defending Masters champion and the World Champion. A change was introduced in 1991 so that seeds 9 to 16 were randomly drawn to play seeds 1 to 8.

In 1996 the last-16 and quarter-final rounds were extended from 9 to 11 frames while the final was extended from 17 to 19 frames. Wild-card matches were extended from 9 to 11 frames in 1999.

{{cite web|title=The Masters – History|url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/theMastersArticle/0,,13165~2248208,00.html|work=worldsnooker.com|publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association|access-date=25 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214024243/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/theMastersArticle/0,,13165~2248208,00.html|archive-date=14 February 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title=The Masters|url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=60|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071627/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=60|archive-date=24 January 2013|publisher=Snooker Scene|access-date=20 January 2012}}{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame|url=http://snooker.org/trn/hof.asp?pEvent=Masters|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=22 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627230710/http://www.snooker.org/trn/hof.asp?pevent=Masters|archive-date=27 June 2013|url-status=live}}

• Active players are shown in bold

For the 21 tournaments from 1990 to 2010 there was a wild-card round in which two additional players (three in 2007) played against the players seeded 15 and 16 (14, 15 and 16 in 2007) to reach the last-16 round. In most years one of the additional players was the winner of the Masters Qualifying Event while the other wild-card was selected. There were no qualifying events for the 1990 and 2005 Masters and both players were selected in those years. There were also two selections in 2007 when the wild-card round was extended to three matches.

The inclusion of wild-card players meant that there were an additional two or three matches to be arranged. The tournament continued to be played over 8 days but three matches were played on Sunday and Monday instead of the usual two (and Tuesday in 2007), so that the last-16 round was still completed on Wednesday. In 2007 all three wild-card matches were played on the first Sunday so that the last-16 round did not start until Monday.

There were a total of 43 wild-card matches. In 19 of these matches the seeded player played the winner of the Qualifying Event. In the remaining 24 matches the seed played a selected wild-card. The players selected as wild-card were Jimmy White (5), Ding Junhui (3), Steve Davis (2), Marco Fu (2), James Wattana (2), Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon, Andy Hicks, Alex Higgins, John Higgins, Paul Hunter, Stephen Maguire, Ian McCulloch, Ricky Walden and Gary Wilkinson.

None of the players who played in the wild-card round won the tournament although two players, John Higgins (in 1995) and Ding Junhui (in 2007) reached the final. Both these players were wild-card selections. Two seeded players who played in the wild-card round reached the semi-final, Jimmy White (in 2004) and Mark Williams (in 2010). The winner of the Qualifying Event never got beyond the last-16 round.

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{{Masters (snooker)}}

{{Snooker tournaments}}

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