Ray Reardon: An early Master

In its first year, the Masters was held at the West Centre Hotel in London's Earls Court as England's John Spencer overcame Welsh wizard Ray Reardon in a tense 9-8 final.

The match had to be decided on a re-spotted black in the final frame for Spencer to claim his �2,000 first prize.

While other events have often struggled to gain recognition in the early days, the Masters has never suffered from that problem.

The following year, the event moved to New London Theatre in Drury Lane, before finally settling in its present location at Wembley Conference Centre in 1979.

Such a big tournament requires an appropriate venue, so where better than Wembley with its 2,700 seating capacity.

Hall of fame

Not surprisingly, the Masters has provided more than its fair share of thrills over the years from the sport's top craftsmen.

Reardon may have lost in 1975, but was back the following year to snatch the title 7-3 off Graham Miles.

Between the end of the 1970s and early 80s, a new batch of talent was to emerge in the Masters.

Within the space of four years, Alex "Hurricane" Higgins ended up twice winner and twice runner-up,

One-time champion Terry Griffiths seemed to be a permanent fixture in the final in the early 80s, achieving the highest break of the tournament an unprecedented three times.

Canadian Cliff Thorburn clocked up three titles between 1983 and 1986, but this was soon to be dwarfed by a young Scot called Stephen Hendry.

Canadian Cliff Thorburn won three Masters titles

Making his debut in the tournament in 1989, he had the gall to go and win the trophy.

Hendry went on to take the title another four years on the trot, but had to overcome a few hairy moments on the way.

In 1991, he staged an impressive comeback, winning 9-8 against Mike Hallett after being 0-7 and 2-8 down.

It was a mortifying defeat for Hallett who missed out three years before when he was crushed 9-0 in the final by Steve Davis.

Amazing feat

Just before the 1993 tournament, Benson and Hedges issued a challenge to Hendry in recognition of him winning the four previous times.

The firm said if he won, Hendry could keep the trophy - which is usually returned for safekeeping after it is presented to the winner - permanently.

Of course, Hendry did win and the cup was his for the keeping.

Hendry quite literally took the trophy in 1993

As a result, the following year's winner, Alan McManus, was presented with a new trophy, which has been used ever since.

While Hendry was to claim the title one more time in 1996 to make it six overall, the only maximum break in the tournament's history goes to Kirk Stevens.

The Canadian achieved the epic 147 mark in his semi-final match against Jimmy White in 1984.

Ironically, White beat Stevens 6-5, making a 119 break in the clinching frame.

Modern times

Ronnie O'Sullivan first played in the event in 1994 after qualifying as a wild card by winning the 1993 Benson and Hedges Snooker Championship.

He lost 5-1 to Dennis Taylor in the first round, but won the tournament the following year, and made it to the finals in 1996 and 1997.

Both times O'Sullivan lost to arguably the most successful players ever to hold a cue, Hendry and 80s legend Steve Davis.

Davis was the "comeback king", not just in his career revival, but also by beating O'Sullivan from being 8-4 down

In the last two years, Irishman Ken Doherty has been the unfortunate runner-up, losing to Scotland's John Higgins and most recently Welshman Matthew Stevens.

And the 2000 defeat was particularly hard for Doherty to swallow after he missed the black for a 147 maximum break in the 15th frame.

The Masters celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1999 and snooker fans will not be surprised to see it still going strong after another quarter of a century.