Key Highlights
- Shaun Murphy was dumped out on day one of the 2026 Masters tournament.
- Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew due to medical reasons and was replaced by Chris Wakelin.
- The tournament features five Chinese players for the first time in its 51-year history.
- BBC Sport has comprehensive live coverage across multiple platforms.
Shaun Murphy’s Early Exit: A Bitter Start to Defending Champion’s Title
The defending champion, Shaun Murphy, had a bitter start to his 2026 Masters tournament when he was dumped out on the first day. Murphy, who beat Kyren Wilson in last year’s final, lost to exciting young Chinese player Wu Yize. This early exit might signal some challenges ahead for the Englishman as he bids to win the tournament for a third time.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Exit and Chris Wakelin’s Entry
Former eight-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out of the tournament on Friday evening due to medical reasons. He was replaced by Chris Wakelin, who is making his debut in this prestigious event. Wakelin will face Neil Robertson, a two-time Masters winner, in their match.
Tournament Features Five Chinese Players for First Time
This year’s Masters features five Chinese players for the first time in its 51-year history. This diversity adds an exciting dimension to the tournament and highlights the growing prominence of snooker in China. The presence of top-ranked Zhao Xintong, Ding Junhui, and others signals a significant shift in the global landscape of the sport.
BBC Coverage: Comprehensive Live Streaming Across Multiple Platforms
The BBC offers comprehensive live coverage of this event across multiple platforms. All first-round matches will be broadcast on Wednesday, 14 January, starting at 13:00 GMT. Fans can watch these matches on BBC Two, the iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.
Semi-finals and the final will air on BBC One, with detailed coverage from 16:30 onwards.
The Masters is a non-ranking event for the world’s top 16 players and is part of the Triple Crown competitions along with the UK Championship and World Championship. This year’s tournament promises to be an exciting affair with high stakes and significant prize money up for grabs. The winner will receive £350,000, while the runner-up gets £140,000.
Snooker enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling event filled with maximum breaks and memorable matches as some of the game’s best players compete against each other over 19 frames in the final.
The tournament will also see the return of the Paul Hunter Trophy, named after the three-time Masters champion who tragically passed away in 2006.
Masters Snooker remains one of the most prestigious events on the calendar, with its rich history and tradition making it a must-watch for fans around the world. As the tournament progresses, we can expect some thrilling matches and unforgettable moments that will cement its place as one of snooker’s most important competitions.
