Masters snooker 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Allen leading Selby NOW after Murphy MISSES 147 chance in win over Robertson – latest

Masters debut

The players are welcomed into the arena to a typically raucous, bouncing atmosphere.

Two equally fabulous welcomes, too.

Si Jiahui was first out and looked to be taking it in his stride. Just as Shaun Murphy thought he would.

He said: “Some people are made for it and the spotlight, and can deal with being the centre of attention. He’s DEFINITELY someone who thrives on it.”

Tonight's action

A swift change in the updates now as we get ready for the evening session.

Really looking forward to this one as Mark Allen faces Si Jiahui.

Si Jiahui is a debutant here, coming into this arena will be a terrific experience for him.

Mark Allen has obviously been here and done it all before. Can that experience tell?

Coming up soon...

Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui will be under way imminently.

The players are preparing now - with Allen the favourite but showing recently dangerous he is.

Ronnie wants psychological help for stars at tournaments

Ronnie O'Sullivan has called on snooker chiefs to provide psychological help for players at tournaments - in the way footballers have masseurs on hand for physical issues.

The Rocket believes far more players have mental "struggles" than is realised - naming himself, Mark Selby and John Higgins for starters.

He told Eurosport, O’Sullivan said: “I think World Snooker should have somebody.

"In football, they have masseuses, people sorting out injuries. I think snooker should have someone at the tournament employed as like if someone is struggling, they’ve come off the table, ‘do you need 10 minutes with someone?’

“I’m not saying everyone will go in there but I just think a lot of players suffer in silence basically. I can tell, just look at them and they’re struggling. They should have someone to go and talk to.

“I think that’s so important. You have coaches sorting your correction out but really you need someone just to unload a bit. I think it would really help the players.

“He’s [Selby] struggled mentally and I struggle mentally and John Higgins struggles mentally.

"The other 124 are a million percent struggling mentally but you’re not allowed: ‘oh, what’s the matter? You’re a snooker player, you’re getting paid this and that’.

"Well, it’s not about the money. It’s just pride of performance."

Rocket reckons Selby plays chess with balls!

Ronnie O'Sullivan believes Mark Selby plays chess with balls - to the level of Garry Kasparov.

The Rocket was awed by Selby's 6-1 demolition of Ai Carter last night.

O'Sullivan reckons Selby has the all-round brilliant of legends Ray Reardon and Steve Davis - rather than the potting pizzazz of Stephen Hendry or current world No 1 Judd Trump.

The seven-time world champ, 49, told Eurosport: "Reardon was an amazing safety player, great break-builder, amazing potter, and had everything. He was the ultimate player, like Davis.

"Not so much Hendry. He was more of a potter like Judd.

"But as the complete player, with Davis and Reardon as all-time greats, you would put him [Selby] in the same bracket."

The Rocket then added: "You look at all these chess players.

"They're all nuts, and they get away with it. This is chess with balls.

"It is a mental sport. You've got to be so clever, thinking so many moves ahead. Well, this is no different. This is Kasparov sitting here."

Coming up tonight - as Si aims to shock Allen

Mark Allen will take on Si Jiahui from 7pm tonight in what looks another mouthwatering clash.

Northern Ireland star Allen has remained one of snooker's most consistent performers over the past 12 months.

And tournament debutant Si, 22 has shot up the rankings to 13th.

What's next for Trump?

Judd Trump's annihilation of Barry Hawkins has earned him a quarter-final clash with China's Ding Junhui.

The quarters will get underway onn Thursday and finish on Friday evening.

Fans react to Trump's demolition job

Snooker fans took to social media in their droves to wax lyrical about Judd Trump's domination of Barry Hawkins.

One wrote on X: "ABSOLUTELY RUTHLESS!"

Another said: "Very strong finish from Judd Trump."

And another said: "This has been a snooker clinic from Judd Trump."

One remarked: "Terrific Trump."

Another chimed in: "Judd Trump looking every inch exactly what he is - the best player in snooker."

Trump wins!

Judd Trump wraps up a sensational showing against Barry Hawkins with a beautiful century break in the final frame on his way to a 6-1 victory.

What a showing Bristol cueist.

Judd Trump 5-1 Barry Hawkins

Barry Hawkins finally takes a frame. Is this the start of an epic comeback?

I, for one, very, very much doubt it.

Judd Trump 5-0 Barry Hawkins

And wrap it up he does! This is a procession from the world number one, you can't help but feel a little sorry for Hawkins.

Judd Trump 4-0 Barry Hawkins (66-12)

Hawkins misses a red to the centre right pocket and to add insult to injury the cue rebounds off a cushion and rolls into a pocket.

You'd think Trump will clear up from here.

Judd Trump 4-0 Barry Hawkins

Play has resumed following the interval and Hawkins has it all to do.

Trump is just two frames away from victory and looks likely to seal his win without dropping a frame.

Judd Trump 4-0 Barry Hawkins

Hawkins has his first real chance but he squanders it on a score of 33.

Trump comes to the table and responds by clearing the table with a break of 77.

There is simply no stopping the Juddernaut right now.

Judd Trump 3-0 Barry Hawkins

A brilliant Trump break puts him in complete command of this match.

Hawkins is only going to get a few opportunities to score in this match so the pressure will be on every time he comes to the table.

Trump scored 67 in that frame but that is all that is needed as Hawkins declines a chance to play for snookers.

Judd Trump 2-0 Barry Hawkins

Barry Hawkins won't quite believe what's happened so far here. He's played one bad shot across two frames and finds himself 2-0 down already.

That's all it takes against Judd Trump these days, you really need to have a flawless session and hope Trump slips up himself.

After that loose safety, Trump secured the frame with minimal fuss, scoring another break of 37.

Judd Trump 1-0 Barry Hawkins (43-0)

Trump building another nice break and gets into the 40s with some nice movement around the table.

But a loose shot leaves him unable to continue building.

Hawkins then plays a safety but it's extremely wayward - he leaves reds open and the cue ball almost falls into the middle pocket.

It hits the jaws and comes back out leaving Trump in a decent position.

He should really clear up from here.

Judd Trump 1-0 Barry Hawkins

Just as we hit publish on that post the blogger's curse strikes - Trump plays a wicked safety of his own and Hawkins has no chance at it.

He concedes the frame and Trump is on the board.

Hawkins didn't get the rolls in that one, but he is cueing very nicely.

Let's hope the level stays this high the rest of the match.

Judd Trump 0-0 Barry Hawkins (52-14)

High quality stuff on the table here from both players.

Trump builds a very nice break of 52 and looks to have the frame in his pocket.

But he then just leaves the cue ball slightly out of position and leaves 35 on the table while 38 in front.

Hawkins needs a snooker and he is putting the world No 1 in some mightily tough positions.

Trump has been up to the task so far, but Hawkins is piling the pressure on.

Judd Trump 0-0 Barry Hawkins (0-14)

Hawkins pots the first two balls of the match - a red and a pink - and then plays a couple of very nice safeties to put Trump in a big bind.

At his next trip to the table he again pots a lovely red to the middle pocket, and then a blue to give himself a small chance at the frame here - lovely cueing.

Unfortunately he gets extremely unlucky trying to break up the pack, potting a red while slamming the blue into the middle.

Trump now has some open reds and a big chance at stealing this frame.

Judd Trump 0-0 Barry Hawkins (0-0)

Hawkins gets us underway!

Here we go

The players are in the waiting room as we speak and just heading towards the tables very soon.

Hawkins to come out first then followed by Trump in front of a pretty decent looking crowd at Ally Pally.

In fact, it looks like a sell out - great stuff.

Minutes away

Here we go everyone, the TV coverage is underway and we're moments away from Judd Trump facing Barry Hawkins.

Trump has been the man to beat in every tournament in the last 12 months and is the bookies' favourite.

Hawkins ended the year in good nick, reaching the final of the UK Championship and then the third round of the Scottish Open.

Hendry's swipe

Stephen Hendry took aim at the current crop of snooker stars in scathing rant on how the sport has developed in recent years.

The Scot raged: “The game’s changed. I can’t believe how negative some of the top players are.

“There were times in the UK Championship where snooker wasn’t fun to watch for me.

"I don’t like watching snooker where people know the shot and walk around the table.

“In the UK Championship, even Judd Trump was playing no risk snooker.

“Even if I didn’t fancy a pot I would still go for it. So much gets refused now.”

Trump's admission

Judd Trump has admitted he feels his achievements aren't given the credit they deserve.

When asked if he thinks he's under appreciated: "I think now more than ever I am.

"For my age I’ve won a lot of events and achieved a lot of things in snooker.

"Winning six ranking titles in a season gets forgotten about a little bit. I think it’s an extremely tough record to break.

"The amount of times I’ve managed to win four, five or six events in a season consistently. I’m proud of myself for what I’ve achieved.

"I don’t need other people to tell me how great it is, but it would be nice for people to recognise it. ‘

"t’s probably something that happens when you retire. It seems to be the same in every sport, you’re not appreciated or people don’t appreciate what you’ve achieved until the end of your career.";