When does Ronnie O'Sullivan return to action in 2022? Masters draw, 2021/22 snooker season, schedule

ByEurosport

Updated 03/01/2022 at 09:26 GMT

World Grand Prix champion Ronnie O'Sullivan begins his bid to claim a record eighth Masters trophy against Jack Lisowski on Tuesday 11 January (1pm GMT) at London's Alexandra Palace LIVE on Eurosport. The six-time world champion ended his 16-month wait for a major title when he lifted the World Grand Prix with a 10-8 victory over Neil Robertson in the final tournament of 2021.

O'Sullivan, Trump and Selby among the top 10 best shots of 2021

Ronnie O'Sullivan begins his quest for a record eighth Masters title and a £250,000 first prize against Jack Lisowski on Tuesday 11 January at 1pm GMT at London's Alexandra Palace.

O'Sullivan is in fine form ahead of the sport's most coveted invitational event having ended his 16-month wait for a ranking trophy when he defeated 2012 Masters champion Neil Robertson 10-8 to claim the year-ending World Grand Prix in Coventry.

The 38-times ranking event winner begins his 30th year as a professional chasing further glory at the elite Masters tournament involving the sport's top 16 players.

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O'Sullivan became the youngest Masters winner in history when he defeated John Higgins 9-3 at the age of 19 years and 69 days at the Wembley Conference Centre in 1995 before triumphing another six times in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

At the age of 46, he would also become the oldest Masters champion of all time if he succeeds this year. Stuart Bingham was 43 when he clasped the trophy with a 10-8 win over Ali Carter two years ago.

O'Sullivan, Trump and Selby among the top 10 best shots of 2021

Defending champion Yan Bingtao opens the tournament against Mark Williams – Masters winner in 1998 and 2003 – at 1pm on Sunday 9 January.

Higgins – who lost 10-8 to Yan behind closed doors in Milton Keynes last year – meets UK champion Zhao Xintong at 1pm on Monday 10 January.

All matches are the best-of-11 frames with the 48th Masters final contested over the best-of-19 frames on Sunday 16 January.

Masters 2022 draw

Yan Bingtao v Mark Williams – 1pm Sunday 9 January
John Higgins v Zhao Xintong – 1pm Monday 10 January
Neil Robertson v Anthony McGill – 7pm Sunday 9 January
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Jack Lisowski – 1pm Tuesday 11 January
Judd Trump v Mark Allen – 1pm Wednesday 12 January
Kyren Wilson v Stuart Bingham – 7pm Wednesday 12 January
Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins – 7pm Monday 10 January
Mark Selby v Stephen Maguire – 7pm Tuesday 11 January

Quarter-final 1: Yan or Williams v Higgins or Zhao – 7pm Thursday 13 January
Quarter-final 2: Robertson or McGill v O’Sullivan or Lisowski – 1pm Thursday 13 January
Quarter-final 3: Trump or Allen v Wilson or Bingham – 1pm Friday 14 January
Quarter-final 4: Murphy or Hawkins v Selby or Maguire – 7pm Friday 14 January
Semi-final 1: Yan/Williams/Higgins/Zhao v Robertson/McGill/O’Sullivan/Lisowski – 1pm Saturday 15 January
Semi-final 2: Trump/Allen/Wilson/Bingham v Murphy/Hawkins/Selby/Maguire – 7pm Saturday 15 January
Final: First session – 1pm Sunday 16 January
Final: Second session – 7pm Sunday 16 January

Watch the moment Yan clinches dramatic Masters triumph

2021/22 snooker season so far

Championship League, 18 July-13 August, Morningside Arena, Leicester: David Gilbert (Eng) 3-1 Mark Allen (NIR)
British Open, 16 August-22 August, Morningside Arena, Leicester: Mark Williams (Wal) 6-4 Gary Wilson (Eng)
Northern Ireland Open, 9-17 October, Waterfront Hall, Belfast: Mark Allen (NIR) 9-8 John Higgins (Sco)
English Open, 1-7 November, Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes: Neil Robertson (Aus) 9-8 John Higgins (Sco)
Champion of Champions, 15-21 November, University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton: Judd Trump (Eng) 10-4 John Higgins (Sco)
UK Championship, 23 November-5 December, York Barbican, York: Zhao Xintong (Chn) 10-5 Luca Brecel (Bel)
Scottish Open, 6 December-12 December, Venue Cymru, Llandudno: Luca Brecel (Bel) 9-5 John Higgins (Sco)
World Grand Prix, 13-19 December, Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry: Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 10-8 Neil Robertson (Aus)
Championship League, 20 December-3 February, Morningside Arena, Leicester
Masters, 9-16 January, Alexandra Palace, London
Shoot Out, 20-23 January, Morningside Arena, Leicester
German Masters, 26-30 January, Temopdrom, Berlin
Players Championship, 7-13 February, Wolverhampton
European Masters, 21-27 February, Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
Welsh Open, 28 February-6 March, Celtic Manor, Newport
Turkish Masters, 7-13 March, Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel, Antalya
Gibraltar Open, 24-26 March, Gibraltar
Tour Championship, 28 March-3 April, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
World Championship, 16 April-2 May, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield