Ronnie O’Sullivan Faces John Higgins in Masters Showdown

The 2024 Masters snooker tournament, the second of the season’s Triple Crown events, kicks off on Sunday at London’s Alexandra Palace with a highly anticipated clash between snooker legends Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins. Defending champion O’Sullivan, 49, aims to extend his record with a ninth Masters title, while Higgins, also 49, seeks to add a third title to his name.

O’Sullivan, who won his first Masters title in 1995 by defeating Higgins in the final, enters the tournament as the reigning champion after beating Ali Carter in the 2024 final. Higgins, who avenged his 2005 loss to O’Sullivan by defeating him in the 2006 final, is seeded 15th this year. The match marks another chapter in their storied rivalry, which has spanned nearly three decades.

Higgins recently sparked controversy by suggesting that O’Sullivan and their fellow ‘Class of '92‘ members, including Mark Williams, are nearing the end of their dominance. “I think in the next ten years the Class of ’92 will be past it,” Higgins told SportsBoom. He pointed to younger stars like Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson as the future of the sport, calling them the “big rivalry” moving forward.

Trump, the world number one, opens his campaign on Tuesday against Barry Hawkins, while Wilson, the reigning world champion, faces Zhang Anda on Wednesday. Other notable matches include three-time Masters winner Mark Selby taking on Ali Carter and two-time champion Mark Williams playing 2011 winner Ding Junhui on Monday.

The tournament, celebrating its 50th anniversary, features a £1,015,000 prize fund, with the winner set to receive £350,000. All matches are best of 11 frames, except for the final on January 19, which will be played over 19 frames across two sessions. Alexandra Palace, with a capacity of 2,217 seats, will host the event, which is broadcast live on BBC TV, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.

O’Sullivan, who has remained non-committal about retirement plans, will use the Masters as preparation for his bid to win a record-breaking eighth World Championship at the Crucible in May. Higgins, meanwhile, has downplayed his own chances of winning another title, acknowledging the rising talent in the sport.

The Masters is an invitational tournament for the top 16 players in the world rankings, making it one of the most prestigious events in snooker. With a mix of seasoned champions and emerging stars, this year’s competition promises to deliver thrilling matches and unforgettable moments.