Masters 2026 draw: Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Neil Robertson, new UK champion Mark Selby meets Xiao Guodong and Judd Trump confronts Ding Junhui
By Alex Livie
Updated 08/12/2025 at 06:31 GMT
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The draw for the 2026 Masters has taken place, with world No. 1 Judd Trump pitted against Ding Junhui. The Masters is the tournament that truly kicks off the year, and the Triple Crown event will take place at Alexandra Palace in North London in January. Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
World No. 1 Judd Trump will open his Masters quest against Ding Junhui after the draw was made on Sunday.
The Masters draw historically takes place during the mid-session interval of the final of the UK Championship - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - and one of the sport’s biggest events threw up some stellar ties.
The Masters is an invitational event and sees the top-16 in the world at the cut-off point in the season come together at Alexandra Palace in north London.
One of the most prestigious events on the calendar is played on one table throughout, meaning huge crowds get to witness the action.
Trump will be one of the favourites, but he is not the No. 1 seed - that billing goes to defending champion Shaun Murphy, who will take on Wu Yize.
It will be Wu’s first appearance at The Masters, and TNT Sports pundit Alan McManus feels it is due reward for his breakout campaign which has yielded victory at the International Championship.
"It is great for Wu Yize getting to play against Shaun," McManus said in the TNT Sports studio at the UK Championship in York.
"Shaun, of course being the defending champion and they will play on the Sunday afternoon, which is tradition.
"That will be a raucous atmosphere. Shaun the showman, Wu Yize is on his coat-tails in that regard, and it will be a fantastic start to the weekend at Alexandra Palace."
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Mark Selby completed a 10-8 victory in the final of the UK Championship, and as eighth seed will face Xiao Guodong. If Trump had secured victory, Ronnie O’Sullivan would have been seeded eighth.
But the ninth seed O’Sullivan, will be pitted against Neil Robertson in a repeat of the Saudi Arabia Masters final won 10-9 by the Australian.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
There are five Chinese players in the field, and Jimmy White feels picking a winner is a difficult task.
"It is a fantastic event," White said. "A Triple Crown event even though there are only 16 players and we have five Chinese players in it for the first time ever.
"To pick a winner of that tournament is very difficult as every match is like a final."
World champion Zhao Xintong was first out of the hat and he will take on the 16th seed, Gary Wilson.
Kyren Wilson has been struggling with his cue this term and he will look to put that behind him and kick off 2026 in style. He takes on Si Jiahui in round one.
John Higgins faces Barry Hawkins, while two former winners will face off as Mark Williams will tackle Mark Allen.
The Masters gets underway on Sunday, January 11 and culminates with the final on January 18 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Masters Draw:
- Zhao Xintong v Gary Wilson
- Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize
- Judd Trump v Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson v Si Jiahui
- John Higgins v Barry Hawkins
- Mark Williams v Mark Allen
- Mark Selby v Xiao Guodong
- Neil Robertson v Ronnie O’Sullivan
- - -
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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