Masters Snooker 2026 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

Shaun Murphy launches the defence of his Masters title against Wu Yize as snooker’s most prestigious invitational event breaks off on Sunday.

The second Triple Crown event of the 2025-26 season gets under way at Alexandra Palace, where the world’s top 16 players battle it out to lift the Paul Hunter trophy.

Murphy did so for a second time last year – a decade after his first – following a 10-7 victory over Kyren Wilson in the final.

The Magician became the tournament’s 12th multiple winner, and now looks to become only the fifth player to successfully defend the crown – after Cliff Thorburn, Stephen Hendry, Hunter and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Murphy, who has already triumphed on UK soil this season at the British Open, is gearing up for his 21st successive Masters appearance, a quarter of a century after making his debut as a wildcard at Wembley Conference Centre.

His title defence begins against one of two debutants in Wu – also one of a record five Chinese players in this year’s field.

The 22-year-old debuts after climbing into the world’s top 16 for the first time following his breakthrough triumph at the International Championship in November.

Yet, that marks his only venture beyond the last 16 of any tournament this season, so that could prove a positive omen should he progress here.

Meanwhile, Mark Selby begins his quest for a fourth Masters title against this year’s other first-timer in Xiao Guodong.

The Jester lifted the trophy in 2008, 2010 and 2013, and was a beaten finalist in 2009 and 2014 – all within his first seven appearances at the Masters.

Yet, he has been unable to maintain that impressive record. In fact, since the latter year, he has won just six of his last 18 matches at the event.

However, Selby arrives this year with a spring in his step, following back-to-back triumphs at the Champion of Champions and UK Championship before Christmas.

Xiao provides the first obstacle he must overcome, with this season’s Wuhan Open champion having previously proven his ability to quickly settle on the big stages.

Indeed, on his Champion of Champions debut last term, he overturned a 3-0 deficit to defeat Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3, and also edged out Selby in a deciding frame, before eventually succumbing to Mark Williams in the final.

The Jester will subsequently be wary, though the Chinese’s triumph in Wuhan represents his most recent progression beyond the last 16 of any event.

Play gets under way at 1pm GMT on Sunday with both matches contested over the best of 11 frames at Alexandra Palace.

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Masters Snooker 2026 Schedule of Play

Sunday January 11

Round One

1pm
Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize

7pm
Mark Selby v Xiao Guodong