The Masters snooker tournament preview, predictions and free tips

Tournament preview, predictions, tips, best bets and analysis for The Masters snooker at Alexandra Palace in London.

Best bets

Ding Junhui
2pts e-w 12-1 general
Jack Lisowski
1pt e-w 33-1 general

The Masters tournament preview

The majority of snooker's elite are set to battle it out for £250,000 at the most prestigious invitational event in the sport.

The only name missing from the top 16 is the biggest one of all - Ronnie O'Sullivan. The Rocket has opted not to take part for only the second time since making his debut in the event in 1995.

With or without O'Sullivan, the market was always going to be headed by the current dominant force on the green baize - world champion, world number one and defending Masters champion Judd Trump.

Twelve months ago, the Bristolian sensationally dispatched O'Sullivan 10-4 to land his maiden Masters and he has since climbed to the top of the rankings with successes including a first world title last April and three ranking titles already this season.

There is never an easy draw in this event, but Trump's path to a successful defence is fraught with danger and would likely see him need to beat three former winners just to get to the final.

He remains the man to beat, but his price is dreadfully short with all things considered and value alternatives must be sought.

China's Ding Junhui fits the bill having returned to form last month when he belied huge odds to land the Betway UK Championship in fine style.

He became only the fifth player to win three UK Championships in what was his first ranking event victory since 2017.

But more notable than simply a return to the winner's enclosure, was the confidence and class the 32-year-old showed at the table.

He compiled ten centuries in York, including four in the final when beating Stephen Maguire, and remains one of the deadliest scorers the game has seen with his pinpoint cue-ball control.

Self-belief and motivation have often been mooted as factors behind Ding's shortcomings. He was expected to win multiple Crucible crowns and far more than the 14 ranking event titles he has claimed when he turned professional back in 2003.

There is still plenty of time for the Star of the East though. He encouragingly spoke of family support and his returning confidence in post-final interviews last month.

With that barren period behind him, he is expected to fly back up the rankings and collect more silverware in the coming months, possibly starting this week.

Punters picking through the draw will no doubt look to second favourite and 2012 winner Neil Robertson, who lines up in arguably the softer bottom half of the draw.

But the talented and exciting Jack Lisowski is also there and he appeals more at the prices.

Last season was without doubt his best and most consistent since turning professional, but the 28-year-old is still without a tour win.

He had a quiet start to the season but a change of cue prior to the UK Championship prompted an improvement in form.

Behind the absent O'Sullivan, he is the most naturally gifted snooker player around and dropped another hint of an imminent breakthrough at the Scottish Open last month - his third run to a ranking-event final.

The cauldron of pressure the players will experience this week will ask plenty of questions of Lisowski's sometimes wayward discipline, but there is no doubting his ability and now he is more accustomed to the one table set-up, he looks a lively outsider.

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