Top Ten Johnstone's Paint Masters Moments

The very first staging of the event, in 1975, saw John Spencer and Ray Reardon battle it out in a nerve shredding final frame. After Spencer spurned a tricky black to the middle, with a seven-point lead, Reardon deposited it to take the tie to a re-spotted black. It was Spencer who redeemed himself with a fine pot from long range to win 9-8 and become the first ever Masters champion. It wouldn’t be the last time the Masters has produced a re-spotted black in a deciding frame of the final.

That victory saw Spencer secure a £2,000 top prize. It’s testament to how far the event has come that next weekend’s champion will pocket £350,000.

The 2022 event saw Mark Williams and John Higgins battle it out in the quarter-finals, 30 years on from turning professional, in a classic contest. Before the tie got underway, the pair received a standing ovation and the match didn’t disappoint.

At 5-5, both players left the arena ,before returning to yet another standing ovation and a spine tingling atmosphere at Alexandra Palace. It was Williams who forged a typically nerveless break of 91 to seal a 6-5 victory.

“To make a break like I did in the last frame, under that pressure, I’ve got to pat myself on the back,” said an elated Williams. “It was electric, probably the best atmosphere I’ve witnessed in 30 years as a professional. Nothing can ever top that.”

A disappointed but reflective Higgins said: “What an atmosphere. I played great, but what can you do? Just the run of the balls sometimes, here and there. But what a night, the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in front of, incredible.”

When you think of classic Wembley occasions involving Scotland, you would normally envisage the Tartan Army rocking up to take on England. However, the 1994 Masters saw an all-Scottish affair take place in the final at the Wembley Conference Centre. Alan McManus stepped up against the all conquering Stephen Hendry, who was seeking an incredible sixth straight Masters title. McManus came through with a match winning 76 break in the decider to prevail 9-8. Speaking in 2019, McManus said he felt he had the crowd on his side.

McManus said: “I definitely sensed they wanted me to win. It was quite apparent they didn’t want Stephen to win it again. Looking back, I think that helped me. It was a bit like a football game. You could feel that vibe there.”

Victory in 2017 saw Ronnie O’Sullivan become the tournament’s most successful ever player. He beat Joe Perry 10-7 in the title match to win the Masters for a seventh time, 22 years on from his first victory in the event back in 1995. That moved O’Sullivan ahead of Stephen Hendry’s previous record of six Masters titles.

Afterwards he paid tribute to Paul Hunter, who that year had the trophy named in his honour. Hunter sadly passed away in 2006

“I won the Paul Hunter Classic in Germany and that meant so much to me, but a player of Paul’s stature and what he did for the game, especially in this tournament – he deserves to have his name on this tournament,” said O’Sullivan.

“He will never be forgotten, all the players loved him. You are there in our hearts and minds and we all love you.”

All three of Paul Hunter’s Masters triumphs saw him come from behind to win thrilling finals 10-9. He was 7-3 down to Fergal O’Brien in 2001 and 5-0 behind against Mark Williams in 2002.

However, his most significant triumph in the event was his last. The Beckham of the Baize faced off against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2004 final and despite trailing 7-2, he rallied to win in a deciding frame.

“I knew I had it in me to come back because I have done it before and I felt I could do it again,” said Hunter after his victory.

"For me to be able to compete in a final against Ronnie at Wembley is a dream come true and I just concentrated on my game when I got to the table."

An iconic Masters moment came in the 1984 semi-finals, when Canada’s Kirk Stevens took on Englishman Jimmy White. Dressed in a dazzling white suit, Stevens proceeded to delight a raucous London crowd with the first ever 147 break in Masters history. His compatriot and member of Hollywood royalty, Donald Sutherland, was in attendance. The only frame Sutherland watched was the 147 break itself. It was White who went on to win the match after crafting an incredible 119 in the decisive frame to win 6-4.

After the final ball was potted, commentator Jack Karnehm simply stated: “Words escape me, just fantabulous.”

A clash of generations saw Steve Davis beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 1997 final. It proved to be the last of Davis’ 15 Triple Crown titles and came four years before O’Sullivan would pick up his first World Championship win. The early stages of the match aren’t remembered particularly for the snooker though, but instead for a female streaker, who took to the arena before being escorted out by security. In a comedic moment afterwards, O’Sullivan mopped referee John Street’s brow before play recommenced.

Davis mounted a stunning comeback in the latter part of the match, coming from 8-4 down to triumph 10-8. Given the stage of his career, Davis has gone on to state that it is one of his greatest ever victories.

Stephen Hendry was in the middle of his five-year Masters winning streak, when his run appeared to be coming to an end at three in 1991. Mike Hallett, who lost the 1988 final 9-0 to Steve Davis, looked to be heading to the title when he led Hendry 8-2. With the score at 8-3, Hallett spurned a pink with the rest which would have secured the title.

The ruthless Hendry could smell blood and showed no mercy to a man who he had won the World Doubles Championship alongside three years earlier. An incredible comeback saw him make it seven frames in a row to secure a remarkable 9-8 victory. To add insult to injury, Hallett returned home to find his house had been burgled.

John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan faced off in the 2006 final, the last ever Masters game held at the iconic Wembley Conference Centre. The match came down to a deciding frame and with O’Sullivan leading 60-0, Higgins embarked on an audacious attempt to steal the title. His opening red to the middle appeared to be short, before just dropping over the lip. The final red was a trademark double which found the leather at the heart of the pocket. He cleared to the black for a heroic break of 64 which saw him win 10-9 on the final ball.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Higgins said: “It’s the best ever memory I’m going to have from this tournament. This tournament will live with me until my dying days.”

Like the inaugural Masters final, Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry’s 1998 showdown came right down to a re-spotted black in the decider. Hendry led 9-6 and had a chance to win the match in the 16^th, before falling out of position on the final pink. Williams fought back to force a final frame. Again, the decider saw Hendry reach the edge of victory, but Williams cleared the colours to take the match down to an additional ball. Hendry had the first big chance with the black near the left middle, but missed a tricky shot on the far jaw. That left Williams with a straightforward opportunity, which he hammered home into a baulk corner. He punched the air with delight after claiming maiden Masters glory.

“It was the tensest I’ve ever been in my life,” reflected Williams. “My hands, knees, arms…my whole body was shaking and I couldn’t control it.

“It’s up there with winning the World Championship title – right up there. It’ll be shown forever, I imagine.”