Masters Snooker 2026 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play
Higgins is eyeing a third Masters title (Credit: PA Images)
John Higgins begins his latest quest to finally complete a hat-trick of Masters titles against Barry Hawkins at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.
It is 20 years since the Wizard landed the second of his Masters crowns, doing so in spectacular fashion with a stunning 64 counter clearance to deny Ronnie O’Sullivan on the final black in the last ever showpiece at Wembley Conference Centre.
Higgins is now gearing up for a record-extending 32nd straight appearance in snooker’s most prestigious invitational event, which he also won in 1999.
The 50-year-old was also a beaten finalist in 1995, 2005 and 2021, yet his recent Masters record is a little more modest, and enters this year having suffered three consecutive first-round exits.
Nevertheless, he has won all three of his Triple Crown meetings with Hawkins, including a 6-1 rout at this stage of the 2020 Masters.
The Hawk is a two-time runner-up, reaching the final in 2016 and 2022, though he fell at the first hurdle 12 months ago, losing 6-1 to Judd Trump.
Kyren Wilson also commences what will be a successful mission to making it third time lucky at Alexandra Palace, where he was runner-up to Shaun Murphy last year.
The Warrior, who also reached the 2018 showpiece, hopes to go one better this time around, though recent cue troubles mean he does not arrive for his 10th straight Masters appearance with momentum.
However, he has won both meetings with first-round opponent Si Jiahui this season, each of which were also contested over the best of 11 frames at the Shanghai Masters and Saudi Arabia Masters.
Si, who lost 6-2 to Mark Allen on debut 12 months ago, hopes to claim his first match win at the Masters, and join compatriots Wu Yize, Xiao Guodong and Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals.
Play gets under way at 1pm GMT on Tuesday with both matches contested over the best of 11 frames at Alexandra Palace.
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Masters Snooker 2026 Schedule of Play
Tuesday January 13
Round One
1pm
Kyren Wilson v Si Jiahui
7pm
John Higgins v Barry Hawkins