Ronnie O’Sullivan ready for defence of Masters snooker title

Ronnie O’Sullivan, 7/4 favourite with Coral for the event, will begin the defence of his Masters snooker crown this month against his fellow world top 16 players at Alexandra Palace.

Traditionally, the 16 highest-ranked competitors will go head-to-head at London’s eight-day event, with the Rocket hoping to retain his title and capture a sixth Masters trophy.

The five-time World Champion is in the more favourable top-half of the draw, but a potential semi-final meeting with Australian Neil Robertson is definitely on the cards, with both former triple crown winners odds-on favourites to win their first round matches.

O’Sullivan is 2/13 to topple Chester’s Ricky Walden, while rampant Robertson is 4/6 to overcome the Milkman Robert Milkins while making the highest break of the match.

Australia’s prolific potter made a historic century of centuries last season, and off the back of his fluid form, the Thunder from Down Under is 5/1 to knock in the highest break of this prestigious tournament.

Ali Carter has had to courageously overcome off-the-baize battles and, having recently finished his successful chemotherapy treatment, the Captain was victorious in October’s General Cup. The returning crowd favourite will be confident of overcoming Barry Hawkins, having won nine of their 10 meetings, and is 13/8 to continue his commanding record.

Alexandra Palace’s show-piece event will open with reigning Crucible king Mark Selby coming up against Shaun ‘the Magician’ Murphy, and the Jester from Leicester is 8/11 to progress past Murphy and 8/1 to claim the title outright.

The bottom-half of the draw is littered with past World and Masters champions, although it’s Judd Trump, a player who has won neither of those titles that is favourite to progress. Triumphant Trump is in sensational form, securing a win in Australia earlier in the term, and also running O’Sullivan close in his previous two major final outings.