The Masters snooker 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Neil Robertson vs Shaun Murphy ON NOW as quarter-finals get underway – updates
THE quarter-finals of the Masters is HERE - and some massive names are still in the running for the Paul Hunter trophy.
Today's action sees Neil Robertson go head-to-head with Shaun Murphy, while Mark Allen takes on Mark Selby in the evening session.
This year, we are guaranteed a new champion after reigning champ Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the tournament on medical grounds.
World No1 Judd Trump is on course to win a Triple Crown Grand Slam after he won the UK Championship in December.
- Start time: From 1pm GMT
- TV channel: BBC Two & Four/Eurosport
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer/discovery+
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Follow our live blog below...
Murphy 0 - 0 Robertson
It'll be Shaun Murphy to break and kickstart this afternoon's match, which is first to 11 frames.
Robertson, who stepped in after Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew won the first of his two Masters titles against Murphy in 2012.
Murphy, turned the tables on the Australian in the 2015 final though, winning that match 10-2.
Here they come
Neil Robertson is the first into this arena and he sports a stern face as he's welcomed into this arena by another bouncing Ally Pally crowd.
Shaun Murphy with a little grin. He looks typically calm and composed.
Murphy: "My game is in good shape"
Shaun Murphy has bigged up Neil Robertson ahead of their clash of the titans match this afternoon.
The pair offered glowing reviews of each other in the pre-match preview.
Robertson, who said Murphy does "all he can to improve things for players" is a savage scorer and Murphy is calm and collected.
Wilson in attendance in the studio
Kyren Wilson plays tomorrow but says he's "not surprised" by the incredible line-up.
He added: "I don't really watch snooker outside of playing.
"But I'm here in the studio today.
"They'll be nervous. I often feel like I'm going to throw up while waiting to come out to play."
Coverage begins shortly
World No.20 Neil Robertson vs Shaun Murphy opens up proceedings this afternoon before Mark Allen vs Mark Selby.
Then its world No 1 Judd Trump against Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson vs Luca Brecel tomorrow evening.
- Neil Robertson vs Shaun Murphy (today, 1pm)
- Mark Allen vs Mark Selby (tonight, 7pm)
Attendance at Ally Pally: 2,200.
All eight finalists have won at least one triple crown title and between them have amassed 127 titles.
Who will win their first Quarter-Final meeting?
2012: Robertson beats Murphy in Final
2013: Robertson beats Murphy in Semi-Final
2015: Murphy beats Robertson in Final
2023: Murphy beats Robertson in Last 16
Next up - Robertson vs Murphy
This could be a fascinating contest in the first quarter-final.
Robertson is a wildcard entry after replacing Ronnie O'Sullivan, who withdrew due to medical grounds.
The Aussie has endured and up-and-down few months, crashing out of the last-32 in the Scottish Open and UK Championship.
Meanwhile, Murphy ended 2024 with second round defeats in the Snooker Shootout and Scottish Open and lost first up at the Riyadh Snooker Championship before winning his World Open qualifier.
Where can I watch the Masters?
Masters Snooker on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer.
You can also follow updates through the live pages on Sun Sport website and mobile app.
What is the prize money?
- Winner: £350,000
- Runner-up: £140,000
- Semi-finals: £75,000
- Quarter-finals: £40,000
- Last 16: £25,000
Results from the first round of the Masters
Sunday January 12
1pm: Neil Robertson 6-5 John Higgins
7pm: Shaun Murphy 6-3 Gary WilsonMonday January 13
1pm: Ding Junhui 6-5 Mark Williams
7pm: Mark Selby 6-1 Ali CarterTuesday January 14
1pm: Judd Trump 6-1 Barry Hawkins
7pm: Mark Allen 6-2 Si JiahuiWednesday January 15
1pm: Kyren Wilson 6-4 Zhang Anda
7pm: Luca Brecel 6-3 Chris Wakelin
Battle of the Marks
Mark Selby and Mark Allen meet in tonight's quarter-final.
Allen edges a their recent head-to-head record 3-2 in their last five meetings.
The Northern Irishman beat Selby 4-2 in the quarter-final of the 2024 Riyadh Season Championship in December.
He went onto beat Luca Brecel in the final to end his 10-month wait for a trophy.
But Selby knocked Allen out of their British Open semi-final in September.
The Englishman beat John Higgins in the final.
Robertson v Murphy first up at 1pm today
Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy meet in a clash of two former world champions in the Masters quarter-finals.
Robertson gained an invite to Ally Pally after Ronnie O’Sullivan's medical withdrawal.
The Australian has grasped his opportunity, beating John Higgins 6-5 in round one.
He compiled breaks of 57, 63, 80 and 118 to come back from the brink to beat Higgins – he was 5-1 down at one stage – in an impressive display of break-building and determination from the two-time Masters champion.
Robertson won his first ranking event title in two years at September's English Open.
Brecel enjoying his form
Luca Brecel reaches the quarter finals of the Masters for only the second time in his career, and takes on current world champ Kyren Wilson tomorrow night.
And he says he’s enjoying his snooker at the moment, feeling his form is back on the up after a disappointing spell post-World Championship win in 2023.
He told the BBC: “Yeah I’m enjoying my snooker a lot. I just need to be playing a little better to have a chance here but I can only get better now.
“My form is coming. I don’t know what or when, but it’s coming!”
Credit: Alamy Wilson edged past Zhang Anda 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals
He will now face the man who preceded him as the King of the Crucible Luca Brecel on Friday night.
Wilson remarkably finished the contest having potted significantly FEWER balls, and scoring 275 points less than Zhang.
But he was crucially clinical when it mattered - taking the first, fourth and seventh frames when his opponent was well-placed to win them.
Kyren Wilson held his nerve to set up last eight clash with Luca Brecel in Masters Quarter-final line-up confirmed
Neil Robertson vs Shaun Murphy opens up proceedings this afternoon before Mark Allen vs Mark Selby.
Then its world No 1 Judd Trump against Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson vs Luca Brecel tomorrow evening.
- Neil Robertson vs Shaun Murphy (today, 1pm)
- Mark Allen vs Mark Selby (tonight, 7pm)
- Judd Trump vs Ding Junhui (tomorrow, 1pm)
- Kyren Wilson vs Luca Brecel (tomorrow night, 7pm)
Masters snooker - Quarter-final schedule
Good morning snooker fans!
So we're down to our final eight after Luca Brecel's victory last night. Here's the four matches and when they're on:
Thursday, January 16
- 1pm: Neil Robertson vs Shaun Murphy
- 7pm: Mark Allen vs Mark Selby
Friday, January 17
- 1pm: Judd Trump vs Ding Junhui
- 7pm: Kyren Wilson vs Luca Brecel
Hair-don't
Kyren Wilson sported black hair for his TV appearance yesterday – his wife did the hair colouring – even though last weekend he had blond highlights and looked like rapper Eminem’s peroxide-blond alter ego Slim Shady.
The No.2 seed – whose quarter-final tie is on Friday night – revealed: “There was a bit of a miscommunication out in China. I thought: ‘Sod it, I’ll get the blond highlights.’
“I won the Worlds in them. It freshens up the look. I went out the night before and was hanging. I fell asleep in the chair and let him crack on for two hours.
“This Chinese gentleman took it off and it was bright white! Will the real Slim Shady please stand up! So, I’ve dyed my hair three times this week. My wife did it for me.”
Outright odds
Judd Trump remains the favourite to scoop yet another title this week.
Mark Selby is his closest challenger and on the form of this round one match, he could be one to take Trump on.
- Judd Trump 15/8
- Mark Selby 9/2
- Kyren Wilson 6/1
- Neil Robertson 6/1
- Mark Allen 13/2
- Shaun Murphy 12/1
- Ding Junhui 12/1
- Luca Brecel 14/1
Brecel reacts
Luca Brecel admits he was just pleased to get through and into the quarters for only the second time at the Masters.
The Belgian was last in the final eight back in 2019 and reckons his outstanding long pots were only good as he found himself out of position a lot.
He told the BBC: “That’s what happens when you keep getting out of position!
“Things to work on but happy with the win.
“This is a special place and I’m more nervous here than the World Championships.
“It’s a special tournament and I’m happy to still be part of it.”
Quarter final line-up confirmed
So there we have it. A busy four days of action but we have our last-eight of the Masters.
And there's some belting ties in there to look forward to:
- Neil Robertson v Shaun Murphy
- Mark Allen v Mark Selby
- Judd Trump v Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson v Luca Brecel
'Underprepared'
Chris Wakelin admitted he wasn't as prepared as he would've liked to have been coming into his first Masters.
Wakelin wasn't too disappointed with how he played but after a hectic home life - with his partner giving birth eight weeks early - he appeared content to be here and revealed it was an 'honour'.
He told the BBC: “I absolutely loved it out there, it was an honour to play out there in front of all these amazjng people in our capital city.
“I didn’t play too well but in all honesty the last few weeks of my life have been very hectic and the last thing on my mind was practicing for this tournament.
“As much as I tried my best out there I didn’t feel as well prepared as I would’ve liked."
On the foul in the last frame he added: “I sat back in my chair wondering what happened there!
“I felt comfortable out there and felt I belonged in the tournament. Walking out is a memory I’ll keep for sure.”
Ripping back to form
Luca Brecel reaches the quarter finals of the Masters for only the second time in his career.
And he says he's enjoying his snooker at the moment, feeling his form is back on the up after a disappointing spell post-World Championship win in 2023.
He told the BBC: “Yeah I’m enjoying my snooker a lot. I just need to be playing a little better to have a chance here but I can only get better now.
“My form is coming. I don’t know what or when, but it’s coming!”
Luca Brecel is through!
Luca Brecel 6-3 Chris Wakelin
Some absolutely sensational pots, high drama and some crazy fouls.
It's been one heck of a Masters match and Luca Brecel comes through 6-3.
Chris Wakelin will have nightmares about his final visit in his maiden tournament but he competed well throughout!
*Luca Brecel 5-3 Chris Wakelin (68-35)
And Brecel is fair punishing him with an ongoing break of 40 and shows no signs of slowing down with the reds sitting nicely.
That foul might be Wakelin's last time at the table in this Masters.
*Luca Brecel 5-3 Chris Wakelin (28-35)
OH NO!
Setting the rest up for a stretching shot on a red and Wakelin's cue appears to slip or fall out the rest and just nudge a red in the pack a little.
He immediately calls the foul on himself but looks absolutely gutted trudging back to his chair.
Costly error at a horrible time.
Luca Brecel 5-3 Chris Wakelin* (24-35)
Wakelin does edge ahead in the frame but he'll be a tad disappointed not to have clearer daylight to his opponent.
Brecel misses his next shot so he's back at the table.
