Ronnie O'Sullivan will start the defence of his Masters title against Neil Robertson, who last week won the Grand Prix in Glasgow.
O'Sullivan, a four times Masters champion, has been handed one of the toughest possible first round draws for the event, which kicks off at Wembley Arena on January 10.
World champion John Higgins faces Mark Allen while six times Masters winner Stephen Hendry tackles world no.3 Shaun Murphy. Mark Selby meets Ding Junhui.
Full details available here.
Seems a bit early to be announcing the draw?
ReplyDeleteB&H used to announce it in June!
ReplyDeleteNo matter what happens David, you know I can't wait. Is there any news yet regarding the first-round draw for The U.K. Championship in December? And also, as it is his birthday today, I beleive that when Terry Griffiths defeated Alex Higgins,16-15, to claim the 1982 U.K. Championship title, this was the last ranking title that Griffiths won. I suspect I am correct. Am I?
ReplyDeleteThe Uk was not a ranking event in 82 as it was not open to all professionals. At least the draw for the Masters is out before the qualifying competition.
ReplyDeleteWrong Jamie the uk was'nt a ranking tournament in those days.
ReplyDeleteThe 1 and only ranking title he won was the world championship in
ReplyDelete1979.
My mistake. Thinking of it, I now realise that the UK was not a ranking event until 1984.
ReplyDeletePatsy Fagan, The UK champion of 1977, is from dublin. Is the reason that he was allowed to play in the tournament, that he was living in (London, England) in those days? As I beleive to be true.
ReplyDeleteThe UK draw came out a while ago Jamie, both qualifying and last 32.
ReplyDeleteGot them both on my blog here:
http://prosnookerblog.com/results/uk-championship-2009-last-32-draw/
Hopefully Ronnie will give out a Wembley masterclass. The first round always throws up corkers at the Masters, hopefully the crowds will pack in.
ReplyDeleteCheers Matt
ReplyDeletei hope robertson thumps ronnie and shows the crowd a masterclass.
ReplyDeleteBack to school Monday boys where you can both enjoy being masterclass. ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope RoS wallops Robertson and shows to everyone that snooker is a British game.
ReplyDeleteSurprised they've put Selby/Ding on first match Sunday morning, that for me is a crazy bit of scheduling.
ReplyDeleteregards
Dean.
When are we going to see these matches back on terrestrial TV! Where i the next gen of fans coming from. Ger at www.gde.ie
ReplyDeleteHi. Just noticed that some of the qualifiers that were scheduled to be held at Sheffields Institue of Sport are now being held at Prestatyn. Think it was the Uk but could have been the Masters. Any idea why this is as i for one was looking forward to nipping down there
ReplyDelete