The Masters
Venue: Wembley Arena Date: 9-16 January
Coverage: Live action and highlights on BBC Two and BBC Red Button; updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 live and live coverage on this website; watch again on iPlayer; Full details of BBC coverage John Higgins beats Mark Williams in epic UK final John Higgins has admitted he struggles to cope with the Wembley atmosphere as he aims to rectify a poor recent record at the Masters which begins on Sunday. The Scot, twice a Masters champion, has also lost nine times in the first round including three of the last four years. "I've always been overawed by the atmosphere at Wembley," Higgins said. "It's such a big arena and if you are playing badly it can be exaggerated." Higgins opens his campaign against compatriot Graeme Dott on Monday. Higgins beat the 2006 world champion 9-8 in the second round en route to his memorable UK Championship triumph in December, capping a highly successful comeback from a six-month ban.  | Even the two times I have won it, I have not played to a great standard |
He has won 18 of his 19 matches since returning to competition and is already back to number one in the world rankings. If he overcomes Dott, he could face a swift reunion with old rival Mark Williams, who he beat 10-9 in that epic UK final after trailing 9-5. Welshman Williams, back to number three in the rankings, must first get past Ding Junhui before he can contemplate a possible revenge mission against Higgins. Not that Higgins is thinking that far ahead given his recent troubles at the venue. "I can't say I've got a terrible record because I've won it twice, but I've bombed out so many times in the first round," the Scot added. "It's such a fabulous tournament and I would love to be able to play better there, but I've not often produced my best. "Even the two times I have won it, I have not played to a great standard - except the 2006 final when I beat Ronnie O'Sullivan. "But I'm really looking forward to it this time because I'm high on confidence at the moment." | 606: DEBATE |
That is in contrast to O'Sullivan, who has slipped to number nine in the new rankings system and is looking for a return to form after his first-round exit to Stuart Bingham in Telford. But the Wembley atmosphere usually galvanises 'The Rocket', a finalist in five of the last six years, nine times in all, and four times a Masters champion. He starts on Tuesday against Mark Allen, the Northern Irishman who beat him in the 2009 World Championship and is up to number 11 in the world after reaching the semi-finals of the UK last month. If he overcomes Allen, O'Sullivan could meet world champion Neil Robertson - who opens against five-time Masters winner Stephen Hendry - in a potentially mouth-watering quarter-final. Defending champion Mark Selby, who came from 9-6 down to beat O'Sullivan 10-9 in the 2010 final, is chasing a third Masters title in four years after also winning on his debut in 2008. Mark Selby wins Masters final frame thriller in 2010 Selby opens proceedings against Mark King on Sunday (1330 GMT), with Shaun Murphy or Jamie Cope - who meet in the evening match - awaiting the winner. The Masters is a prestigious invitational event for the top 16 players in the world, with no ranking points on offer. But they will be competing for a winner's cheque of £150,000, with a total prize fund of £500,000 under a new sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes Mobile.
Masters first round draw: Mark King v Mark Selby (Sunday from 1330 GMT) Ali Carter v Peter Ebdon (Sunday from 1900 GMT) Mark Williams v Ding Junhui (Monday from 1330 GMT) John Higgins v Graeme Dott (Monday from 1900 GMT) Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Allen (Tuesday from 1300 GMT) Stephen Maguire v Marco Fu (Tuesday from 1900 GMT) Neil Robertson v Stephen Hendry (Wednesday from 1330 GMT) Shaun Murphy v Jamie Cope (Wednesday from 1900 GMT)
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