Welcome to the 2021 Masters, now sponsored by Betfred!
Before we can talk about its history, the lineup, etc. we must talk about the venue change. World Snooker confirmed that the Masters would move from Alexandra Palace to the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes for the first time since 2012.
The atmosphere last year at Alexandra Palace when I watched David Gilbert beat Mark Allen 6-1 was absolutely phenomenal. It would’ve been nice to look into a different venue and mix things up. We will miss the gravitas of Alexandra Palace but everyone’s health matters and the Marshall Arena is the best place to accommodate that. So let’s move on.
The Prestige of the Masters
I believe that the Masters is the second best event in the snooker calendar, behind the World Championship. It is an iconic tournament and the current trophy is gorgeous. For my Top Ten Masters Finals (2018), please click here. For my Top Five Masters Matches (2019), please click here.
We can talk about the streaker who ran onto the arena and disrupted the 1997 Masters final. There are many incredible matches. There are so many nail-biting deciders to choose from (Williams vs. Hendry, 1998; Hunter vs. O’Brien, 2001; Higgins vs. O’Sullivan, 2006; and Selby vs. O’Sullivan, 2010). A lot of which is talked about by following WPBSA’s tweet below.
The Line-Up
Hate to throw in that cliché, but every opening tie could be the final. Even though 2016 finalist Barry Hawkins and 2020 finalist Ali Carter failed to make the cut this year. It is surprising not to see Hawkins there, as he’s been ever-present in the Masters since 2013.
The three replacements will be very exciting indeed. Ronnie O’Sullivan chose not to participate last year and will return this time around. We also have three exciting debutants: 2019 Riga Masters winner Yan Bingtao, 2020 Shoot-Out champion Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and 2019 World Championship runner-up Gary Wilson. Though it is a shame that both Un-Nooh and Yan won’t experience the roaring audience this year.
What is so unfortunate is what happened on Saturday 9th January. Judd Trump and Jack Lisowski have tested positive for COVID-19. They will be self-isolating and are immediately replaced by Joe Perry and Gary Wilson respectively. It was a real blow for the event. I’m really gutted for them both, it’s unbelievably unfortunate. Hope they get better. Though this has reignited debate to whether the Masters should’ve been postponed instead, the show must go on.
DRAW
Please note that the head-to-head records (H2H) will exclude results from the Snooker Shoot-Out and the Championship League. Data found according to CueTracker.
Stuart Bingham (1) vs. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (16)
H2H: Bingham is leading Un-Nooh 3-2.
Last Meeting: 2018 English Open (Bingham winning 4-3).
Despite being ranked 12th in the world, Stuart Bingham is the No. 1 seed as defending champion. Bingham hasn’t set the world alight over the past few seasons. The last time Bingham reached a ranking quarter-final was at the World Open in October 2019. But it’s so easy to underestimate Ball-run. Let’s not forget that he was scoring for fun when he became the 2015 World Championship and scored his 8th maximum break in this year’s Championship League.
But Thepchaiya Un-Nooh hasn’t been at his best this season either. Un-Nooh is the first Thai to participate in the Masters since James Wattana in 1999. Un-Nooh hasn’t reached a ranking quarter-final this season and hasn’t performed anywhere near his form last season. However, Un-Nooh is the sort of person who can turn it on out of nowhere and blow anyone away.
I think Bingham will win his opener this Masters. He has a better H2H record and on better form too. Bingham proved that by qualifying for the World Grand Prix and Un-Nooh didn’t. But his defence will give him a kick up the backside. No fans will watch him live, but he will love being introduced as a defending champion again.
Prediction: Bingham to win 6-2.
Shaun Murphy (8) vs. Mark Williams (14)
H2H: Murphy is leading Williams 10-8.
Last Meeting: 2019 China Championship (Murphy winning 10-9).
Neither player have shone this season but this is a cracking tie. These two are Triple Crown winners who proved their bottle time and time again. There isn’t much to choose from form-wise. Shaun Murphy reached the European Masters semi-finals before being outclassed by eventual champion Mark Selby. And that’s it this season so far.
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Murphy has taken to social media to laugh at his shortcomings, which is quite nice to see. Mark Williams has always been self-deprecating on the same platform. But when they play each other, especially in the quarter they are in, they will see this as a brilliant opportunity to reach the Masters semi-finals. I think this will go to the deciding frame but in Mark’s favour. Their H2H record is also riddled with deciders!
I also want to take the opportunity to advertise Shaun Murphy’s campaign with commentator Phil Seymour. They are raising money for charities Jessie May and Kitchen for Everyone York by competing against each other in a weight loss challenge. Please read and I encourage you to donate.
Prediction: Williams to win 6-5.
Mark Selby (5) vs. Stephen Maguire (9)
H2H: Selby is leading Maguire 10-7 and one draw.
Last Meeting: 2020 Players Championship (Maguire winning 6-5).
Mark Selby is one of the few who settled comfortably at Milton Keynes. Two ranking final victories are fantastic for any player. He has done some phenomenal work with coach Chris Henry to get his form back on track. But Selby’s recent Masters form has been shaky at best. He hasn’t reached the semis since he lost the 2014 Masters final to O’Sullivan 9-3.
Stephen Maguire has not played well in Milton Keynes at all. He hasn’t passed the third round in any ranking event so far this season. After he lost in the first round of the Scottish Open, he said he “shouldn’t have come“. Hopefully, he will return refreshed. Like Selby, his recent Masters record is nowhere near as good compared to earlier in his career.
This pair has met in the Masters in 2019, with Selby winning 6-2. I reckon Selby will win by the same scoreline.
Prediction: Selby to win 6-2.
Neil Robertson (4) vs. Yan Bingtao (12)
H2H: Robertson is equal with Yan at 1-1.
Last Meeting: 2019 UK Championship (Yan winning 6-1).
Neil Robertson is doing very well indeed to keep up with Selby and Trump. Despite losing in the English Open final, but he won the UK Championship by beating classy players like Selby, Zhou Yuelong and eventually Trump. He scored 41 centuries so far and he would’ve hoped for an opponent to easily present him with opportunities to knock a few more.
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But Yan Bingtao is not that sort of opponent. Yan has plodded into the Top 16, thanks to three semis and two finals last season, including his Riga Masters victory. Yan has also reached two quarter-finals this season. The 20-year-old takes people by surprise because he’s not a typical, young player who goes for every long-pot opportunity. He is compact, well-measured and patient. Someone that can give Robertson plenty to think about.
This could come very close for me. There is little to go on in terms of their H2H record. But I believe that Robertson will prevail here.
Prediction: Robertson to win 6-4.
Joe Perry (Alt) vs. David Gilbert (13)
H2H: Perry is leading Gilbert 7-5.
Last Meeting: 2019 Paul Hunter Classic (Perry winning 4-3).
Following 2019 Masters champion Judd Trump’s withdrawal, 2017 finalist Joe Perry will take his place. Perry was very close to qualifying for the Masters in the 2020 UK Championship. Perry reached the quarter-finals but lost to Lu Ning 6-4. He reached a few quarter-finals and the 2019 Northern Ireland Open semis. But he was a victim to a few first-round exits that perhaps were the main reasons behind him dropping off the Top 16.
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David Gilbert isn’t in good form at all. He is 68th in the One-Year Ranking List, which is way below what he is capable of. Gilbert is clearly struggling with his bottle and confidence. He clearly knows how to beat Trump. Arguably, the best time to beat Trump is early into a tournament.
It will be very interesting to see how quickly Perry will react to suddenly playing at the Masters. He hasn’t played in the Championship League this year yet. I expect him to be rusty unless he’s been regularly practising. Looking at their H2H, they had a number of close games. But I will go for the Perry win, because I see him as having greater confidence at the moment.
Prediction: Perry to win 6-4.
Kyren Wilson (6) vs. Gary Wilson (Alt)
H2H: Kyren is leading Gary 4-0.
Last Meeting: 2014 UK Championship (Kyren winning 6-5).
It’s the battle of the Wilsons! Remarkably, they haven’t met outside of the Championship League since 2014! They have most recently met this year in Group 2 of the Championship League. Gary Wilson won 3-2.
Kyren Wilson’s season has been very consistent. He won the Championship League and has reached five ranking quarter-finals. It wouldn’t surprise me if he became World Champion one day. But he is desperate for that big win.
Gary Wilson admitted himself that his form is terrible, saying that he’s “just totally gone, including snooker … [felt] the worst I’ve ever felt.” Since his awesome run to the 2019 World Championship semi-finals, he hasn’t been able to carry on that form, bar the 2020 European Masters semis, and 2020 World Grand Prix last season. Though he may feel he hasn’t played well this season, this is a perfect time to grab the opportunity with big hands.
Kyren needs a statement to keep up with his rival Trump, especially now he’s out of the running.. Gary needs ‘a’ trophy win to regain his confidence. Both Wilsons are match-fit because they played in the Championship League. I think based on immediate form and H2H, Kyren should win comfortably.
Prediction: Kyren to win 6-2.
John Higgins (7) vs. Mark Allen (10)
H2H: Allen is leading Higgins 9-8.
Last Meeting: 2018 Masters (Allen winning 6-3).
This is the match of the round for me. Weirdly, the pair have faced each other four times in the Masters and Allen has won all of these match-ups.
Mark Allen reached umpteen quarter-finals and semi-finals without picking up one major trophy last season. This season, he hasn’t reached one ranking quarter-final, but he won the prestigious Champion of Champions! He has good memories of the Masters, winning it in 2017. But Allen lost the last two first-round matches in the same event.
The last time John Higgins reached the Masters final was when he won it in 2006. Since that victory, he reached the semis three times. So this tourney hasn’t been kind of The Wizard from Wishaw. Nor has Milton Keynes, to be honest. Higgins only has one ranking semi-final to boast about.
But these ties excite me. Not only because they are incredible players but also because they get on so well. I believe this should be a Mark Allen win. He has the H2H, Masters H2H and last meeting on his side.
Prediction: Allen to win 6-3.
Ronnie O’Sullivan (2) vs. Ding Junhui (11)
H2H: O’Sullivan is leading Ding 16-5 and three draws.
Last Meeting: 2020 Scottish Open (O’Sullivan winning 5-4).
This will be the third meeting between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ding Junhui in two months.
Since O’Sullivan won the World Championship, Ronnie reached two ranking final when playing far below his best. He has made plenty of mistakes on the table, accused Mark Allen of distracting him in the Champion of Champions and irritated fans for playing on unnecessarily when the frame is long gone. He was lucky to reach the Scottish Open final but didn’t put up much of a fight against Selby, losing just 9-3.
It is harder to know which Ding will turn up next. He showed his best and worst during two of the most recent losses against Ronnie, one of which Ronnie described his own play as ‘embarrassing‘. I could only assume Ding is struggling due to long periods away from his family. But I hope after some rest both players can perform brilliantly this time because we fans want to see it. But in both cases, I can only see a win going to the Rocket.
Prediction: O’Sullivan to win 6-4.
Prediction Winner of the 2020 Masters: Selby vs. Allen
The Dafabet Masters will take place between Sunday 10th and Sunday 17th January 2021 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England.
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