O'Sullivan comforts Ding after last year's incident-packed final

This year's Saga Insurance Masters promises to be one of the most fiercely fought in its 33-year history.

Of the 18 competitors at Wembley Arena, nine have won a major snooker tournament in the last two years.

Shaun Murphy kicks things off against Ali Carter, while defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Stephen Maguire who he beat to win the UK Championship.

The winner of the 2008 event will take home �150,000, while there is a �25,000 bonus for any maximum 147 breaks.

Last year, the competition moved across the road from the Wembley Conference Centre to Wembley Arena which holds up to 4,000 spectators.

Two-time finalist Ken Doherty, who faces Mark Williams this year, believes the venue matches the liveliness of the old haunt.

"The Conference Centre was great when it was full with 2,600. There was a superb atmosphere in there and I think that has been recreated in Wembley Arena," he told BBC London.

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"That is very important from the players' and fans' perspective."

Unfortunately, the boisterous elements of some parts of the crowd left a sour taste during last year's final.

O'Sullivan's 10-3 victory over wunderkind Ding Junhui was impressive, but his third Masters triumph was overshadowed by comments aimed at his Chinese opponent.

However, Ding said it was the performances on the table rather than the atmosphere that proved to be the catalyst for his downfall.

"Ronnie played very well that day," Ding told BBC London.

"I started OK but then he began to play brilliantly and I just lost my concentration."

The 20-year-old faces world champion John Higgins in the first round and anticipates a stiff test.

"It will be a difficult opening match. I met him twice in the Premier League this season and lost on both occasions," he said.

Title holder O'Sullivan has appeared in the last four finals and reaching a fifth would see him one short of Stephen Hendry's record of appearances in successive Masters finals.

"I love the Masters and I'm proud of my record over the last four years," said the 32-year-old.

The fans at Wembley are fantastic Ronnie O'Sullivan

"Even the two finals I lost, I don't mind looking back on them because they were both great matches.

"It's one of the top tournaments of the season for me and I'd love to make another final.

"The fans at Wembley are fantastic, I really appreciate the support I get and I hope I can put in some good performances for them."

O'Sullivan added that the provisional world number two Maguire would be fired up for their encounter after losing 10-2 in the UK Championship in Telford.

"Stephen will take a lot from that match and come back stronger," O'Sullivan said.

Elsewhere, six-time champion Stephen Hendry faces a tough match against last year's Crucible finalist Mark Selby, while three-time champion Steve Davis will need to beat wildcard Marco Fu to progress to the first-round proper.