Ronnie O’Sulivan celebrates winning the 2024 Masters last year. (Image: Getty)
The impact of lucrative events in China and Saudi Arabia has been cited as a reason for the increased amount of prize money at the Masters this year. The Triple Crown event gets underway at Ally Pally this Sunday, January 12, with going in as defending champion.
His 2024 final win over Ali Carter was his eighth victory at the tournament, and took his number of major titles to a record-extending 23.
The victory also earned him £250,000, but this time around ‘The Rocket’ and his rivals are playing for more money as well as the Paul Hunter Trophy.
In the 2025 version, the winner will take home a cheque for £350,000. And now former professional player Neal Foulds has speculated that the fund has been enhanced due to the financial incentives at events outside of the UK.
“I’m not sure why that financial boost has been injected this year,” he said. “Perhaps World Snooker Tour felt they wanted to give the Masters another shot in the arm, as if it was needed, but it won’t do any harm in a competitive market which now includes those big-money events in China and Saudi Arabia.”
For the first time ever, the overall amount handed out in the tournament will exceed £1million. The runner-up will take home £140,000, and losing semi-finalists will make £75,000 each.
Judd Trump is seeded third for the tournament. (Image: Getty)
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But the prize pot is still dwarfed by tournaments like the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, which took place at the end of August into September last year. There, , with winner banking a cheque for £500,000.
The Masters was first held in 1975, and has long been established as one of the most prestigious events in snooker. And Foulds also believes that the extra money on offer won’t impact the motivation of the players.
Arguing it’s the crowd that make the tournament, he said: “As much as money and history is a big part of the allure of the Masters, the atmosphere served up for this tournament really is something special, and quite unique to other events.
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“Make no mistake, it gets rowdy in the venue, more so than at pretty much any other, but it makes for an incredible atmosphere. And I think the crowd generally find the right balance, just about staying on the right side of the line.”
It’s O’Sullivan who again goes in as the top seed, and faces an enticing first-round clash with . The tournament culminates with the best-of-19-frame final on Sunday, January 19.