2026 Masters (snooker)

Last updated

2026 Johnstone's Paint Masters
Tournament information
Dates11–18 January 2026 (2026-01-11 – 2026-01-18)
Venue Alexandra Palace
CityLondon
CountryEngland
Organisation World Snooker Tour
FormatNon-ranking event
Defending championFlag of England.svg  Shaun Murphy  (ENG)
← 2025

The 2026 Masters (officially the 2026 Johnstone's Paint Masters) is an upcoming professional non-ranking snooker tournament that will take place from 11 to 18 January 2026 at Alexandra Palace in London, England. [1] The top 16 players in the snooker world rankings, as they stand after the 2025 UK Championship, will be invited to the event. [2] The second Triple Crown event of the 2025‍–‍26 snooker season, following the 2025 UK Championship and preceding the 2026 World Snooker Championship, [3] the tournament will be the 52nd edition of the Masters, which was first held in 1975. [2]

Shaun Murphy will be the defending champion, having defeated Kyren Wilson 10‍–‍7 in the 2025 final. [4]

Overview

The 2026 Masters is an upcoming professional non-ranking snooker tournament that will take place from 11 to 18 January 2026 at Alexandra Palace in London, England. [1] The second Triple Crown event of the 2025–26 snooker season, following the 2025 UK Championship and preceding the 2026 World Snooker Championship, the tournament will be the 52nd edition of the Masters, which was first held in 1975 for 10 invited players at the West Centre Hotel in London. [5] [6] John Spencer won the inaugural event, defeating Ray Reardon on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame of the final. [6] The second-oldest professional snooker tournament, after the World Snooker Championship, [7] the Masters has been staged at Alexandra Palace since 2012. [8]

In advance of the 2026 event, Ronnie O'Sullivan is the most successful player in the tournament's history, having won the title eight times. O'Sullivan also holds records as both the tournament's youngest and oldest winner, having won his first title in 1995, aged 19, and his eighth title in 2024, aged 48. [9]

In 2016, the Masters trophy was renamed the Paul Hunter Trophy to honour the late three-time champion, who won the title in 2001, 2002, and 2004. [10] Hunter died of cancer in 2006, aged 27. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Tournaments 2025–26". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Johnstone's Paint Masters". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Calendar 2025/2026 - snooker.org". www.snooker.org. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Masters snooker final 2025: Shaun Murphy beats Kyren Wilson 10-7 at Alexandra Palace". BBC Sport. 19 January 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Johnstone's Paint Masters". World Snooker Tour . Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  6. 1 2 Hendon, David (5 January 2021). "History of the Masters". WPBSA . Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Masters snooker 2018: Draw, schedule, results, betting odds & BBC TV coverage". Sporting Life . 17 April 2018. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Hall of Fame". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ronnie O'Sullivan fights back to beat Ali Carter and win eighth Masters title". The Guardian . 14 January 2024. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Phillips, Owen (20 April 2016). "Paul Hunter: Masters trophy renamed in honour of ex-champion". BBC Sport . Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Burnton, Simon (10 October 2006). "Paul Hunter loses battle with cancer aged 27". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
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