Betting tips, predictions and odds

THE 2026 Masters takes place at the iconic Alexandra Palace from January 11th to 18th. Only the current top 16 players in the world are invited to take part, meaning there is no room for error as the players battle it out for one of snooker’s three showpiece titles. 

There is an intriguing mix of competitors taking part this year. The Old Guard of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams were all invited, along with the current generation of Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and defending champion Shaun Murphy.

Adding extra spice to the event is the record five Chinese entrants, which includes reigning world champion Zhao Xintong, whose presence has shaken up the outright winner markets.

Shaun Murphy defeated Kyren Wilson 10-7 in a memorable final in 2025. Showing how hard it is to win back-to-back, only three players have done it in history, with Ronnie O’Sullivan’s wins in 2016 and 2017 the last time it was achieved.

Murphy’s strong season suggests he has a genuine chance of breaking the so-called defending champion curse.

Masters Snooker 2026 odds: The favourites

• Judd Trump – 4/1
• Zhao Xintong – 9/2
• Mark Selby – 9/2
• Ronnie O’Sullivan – 15/2
• Neil Robertson – 8/1
• Kyren Wilson – 10/1
• Shaun Murphy – 11/1
• Wu Yize – 18/1

Odds provided by bet365 are subject to change.

Current world number one Judd Trump is the betting favourite to win the 2026 Masters. The two-time champion has had equipment problems in recent weeks, but they didn’t prevent him from reaching the finals of the Champion of Champions and the UK Championship at the back end of 2025.

World champion Zhao Xintong is also one of the favourites. However, showing just how competitive the Masters is, he is on the same side of the draw as Trump.

Elsewhere, Ronnie O’Sullivan is drifting in the betting. The Rocket has drawn in-form Neil Robertson in the first round, and there is also the underlying worry that the former champion may withdraw from the competition like in 2025.

Rather than The Rocket, it’s Mark Selby who leads the betting in the top half of the draw. But again, competition is strong. The Jester is likely to come up against defending champion Shaun Murphy in the quarter-final, before a potential showdown with Robertson, O’Sullivan or last year’s beaten finalist Kyren Wilson in the semi-final.

🏆 The favourites: Who is the smart money on?

Judd Trump 4/1 (The Banker)

Trump is the world number one, and although he is yet to win a tournament this season, he has still performed consistently, reaching three high-profile finals. His winless run won’t go on forever, and with Trump loving the big stage, it would be no surprise to see him turn on the style at the iconic Ally Pally, arguably the biggest stage of all. 

➡️ Bet on Judd Trump at 4/1 with bet365

Zhao Xintong 9/2 (The X-Factor)

Zhao is one of snooker’s X-Factor performers. He can blow opponents away in quick time, and with the 2025 World Championship title to his name, the rest of the draw now knows he is no longer just a player with potential, but the real deal. The downside to siding with Zhao, is he’s on the same side of the draw at Trump.

➡️ Bet on Zhao Xintong at 9/2 with bet365

Mark Selby 9/2 (The Value)

Mark Selby held off a remarkable Judd Trump fightback to win the UK Championship 10-8 in December. Apart from this final session nerves, The Jester looked back to his best in York. As we already pointed out, he has a tough draw at the Masters. Should Selby come through, he will be even more battle-hardened and difficult to stop in the final.

➡️ Bet on Mark Selby at 9/2 with bet365

First round draw & betting tips

Here are our tips and picks for the first round draw from the best snooker betting sites in the UK.

Sunday 11 January

Shaun Murphy (1) vs Wu Yize (13)

• Verdict: Murphy is the defending champion and is having a great season. We expect the Magician to have a good go at defending his champion and he should have too much for debutant Yize.

➡️ Back Shaun Murphy -1.5 frame handicap at 21/20 with Betfred

Mark Selby (8) vs Xiao Guodong (11)

• Verdict: Selby looks back to his best. His win at the UK Championship last month will have only further improved his growing confidence and self belief.

➡️ Mark Selby -2.5 frame handicap at 10/11 with bet365

Monday 12 January

Mark Williams (6) vs Mark Allen (10)

• Verdict: The battle of the left-handers. This one could go either way, so given both players’ exceptional break building abilities, backing centuries looks the smartest way to go.

➡️ Back over 1.5 match centuries at 4/6 with bet365

Zhao Xintong (2) vs Gary Wilson (16)

• Verdict: World champ Xintong saw off a load of big names to win the lucrative Riyadh Season Championship in November. His A-game will blow away the gritty Wilson.

➡️ Zhao Xintong to win and have over 0.5 century breaks at 8/11 with BetMGM

Tuesday 13 January 

Kyren Wilson (4) vs Si Jiahui (15)

• Verdict: Both players have underperformed in recent months, but Si Jiahui’s fearless style gives him a chance of causing an upset if the more experienced Wilson is again out of sorts.

➡️Si Jiahui to win at 17/10 with SBK

John Higgins (7) vs Barry Hawkins (14)

• Verdict: Barry Hawkins consistently turns up for the big events, but John Higgins is a master of grinding out tough wins in tight contests.

➡️ Back John Higgins to win at 8/13 with Tote

Wednesday 14 January (The Big One)

Judd Trump (3) vs Ding Junhui (12)

• Verdict: Ding is capable, but world number one Trump has been in two major finals lately and looks to be finding his best form at the business end of the season.

➡️ Judd Trump to win and have the highest break at 4/5 with BetMGM

Neil Robertson (5) vs Ronnie O’Sullivan (9)

• Verdict: It’s always risky to write O’Sullivan off, but Neil Robertson looks in a good place again and we can see him edging a blockbuster contest.

➡️ Neil Robertson to win at 10/11 with SBK

📝 Strategic betting angles for the 2026 Masters Snooker

Micro-betting (In-Play markets)

With shorter matches, in-play betting is going to be key. Comebacks are less frequent, so focus on markets such as the Next Frame Winner, Half Century in the Next Frame, and live handicap betting. Remember, momentum swings can often only last for a frame or two in the best-of-11 format.

The 147 market

There have only been six maximums in the history of the Masters, but three have come in the previous two editions. Ding Junhui and Mark Allen achieved it in 2024, and Shaun Murphy did it in 2025. Another 147 in 2026 is 13/8, with no maximums at 1/2.

Despite maximum breaks increasing in general, it’s worth bearing in mind that there were only three at the Masters between the first in 1984 and the third in 2015. One of this year’s participants, Ding Junhui, is the only man with two maximums at this event.

Highest break market

There are huge break builders on show at this year’s Masters. Judd Trump and Neil Robertson are in form and can both score heavily, but the Chinese contingent of Zhao Xintong, Wu Yize and Si Jiahui are all excellent break builders and can’t be underestimated. With centuries in 56% of his matches, Wu Yize could be undervalued in this market at 14/1.

Final predictions summary

🏆 Outright Winner: Judd Trump 4/1 at bet365

Although we feel that Mark Selby is a strong candidate to win, we have to take the draw into account. Selby could face Shaun Murphy in the quarter-final, with Neil Robertson or Ronnie O’Sullivan as potential semi-final opponents.

We know there are no weak sections in the Masters, but Trump’s passage to the final is clearer and that is why he is our pick to win. 

💰 Best Value: English Winner 4/6 at bet365

A record five Chinese players will feature at the 2026 Masters, but only reigning world champion Zhao Xintong is being given a genuine chance of lifting the trophy by the bookmakers.

The bulk of the favourites are English, including Selby, O’Sullivan and Murphy in the top half of the draw, along with Judd Trump in the bottom. With a strong possibility of an all-English final, backing an English winner in the nationality market looks like the best value bet.

💣 Longshot: Shaun Murphy Each-Way 11/1 at bet365

Shaun Murphy is the defending champion and has also been one of the most consistent performers throughout 2025.

We can see The Magician making a spirited attempt to defend his crown, and it would shock no one if he makes it to the final. He is on the toughest looking side of the draw, but his odds are good enough to enable an each-way bet.

📺 Where can I watch the Masters Snooker 2026?

Every shot at the 2026 Masters will be shown live on free-to-air TV across the BBC (BBC One, Two and Four) and you can also catch the action on TNT Sports.

For streaming, you can follow the events for free on the BBC iPlayer, or you can also subscribe to the Discovery+ streaming service for ad-free coverage.

A total of 15 matches will take place across the nine days, with daily afternoon sessions starting at 1pm and evening sessions at 7pm. 

Frequently asked questions

1. Who has won the most Masters titles? 

With eight titles to his name, Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the most Masters titles. The Rocket has won two more than Stephen Hendry (six) and five more than Mark Selby (three).

2. What is the prize money for the 2026 Masters? 

The total prize fund at the 2026 Masters is £1,015,000. The winner gets £350,000, with the runner-up taking home £140,000. Losing semi-finalists get £75,000 each, with the four losing quarter-finalists pocketing £40,000. The eight first round losers get £25,000 each.

3. Is the Masters a ranking event? 

No, the Masters isn’t a ranking event. It is an invitational competition only open to the top 16 players in the world rankings at the end of the UK Championship. Along with the UK Championship and World Championship, the Masters is one of snooker’s Triple Crown events.

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