Who does Ronnie O'Sullivan face in action-packed start to New Year? Masters set to spark busy schedule for snooker GOAT
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ByEurosport
Published 05/01/2024 at 11:01 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to embark upon a hectic first few months of the year when he meets Ding Junhui in the first round of the 50th Masters on Monday afternoon in London. O'Sullivan's 10-7 win over Ding in the UK final last month has opened up access to all of the main events on the professional circuit with his schedule seeing him participate in seven tournaments before the end of February.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan will play his first match of the New Year against Ding Junhui at the 50th Masters in London on Monday before embarking upon a busy start to 2024 that will see him visit Barnsley and Berlin in his title quest.
After chasing a record-extending eighth Masters title in London, the UK champion – who defeated Ding 10-7 to claim the UK Championship last month – meets Pang Junxu in the first round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester next week, an event consisting of the top 32 on the sport's one-year list.
A week later sees the world No. 1 head off to Barnsley to face Alfie Burden aiming to secure a last-64 spot in the World Open and a trip to the finals venue in Yushan next month (March 18-24 live on Eurosport and discovery+).
O'Sullivan barely has time to pause before he is due to visit Berlin's Tempodrom – scene of his 2012 German Masters 9-7 final victory against Stephen Maguire – to face Julien Leclercq of Belgium in a first-round match held over to the finals venue.
It will be his first match at the Tempodrom since he lost 5-4 to Mark King in the last 32 in 2017.
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There is a week off until the Welsh Open in Llandudno with the Players Championship in Telford involving the top 16 on the one-year list is pencilled in for the following week.
The seven-time world champion is then due to return to Leicester for the finals week of the Championship League which sees him in Group 7 alongside Jimmy Robertson and Si Jiahui.
It is a crammed schedule and whether O'Sullivan plays some or all of these matches will perhaps depend upon how well he performs at each event with a run to the final leaving very little time to recover for travel and preparation.
O'Sullivan's hectic start to 2024
The Masters, Alexandra Palace, London
- Monday, January 8 (1pm): Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ding Junhui (Chn) – Last 16 (best of 11 frames)
World Grand Prix, Morningside Arena, Leicester
- Tuesday, January 16 (7pm): Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu (Chn) – Last 32 (best of seven frames)
World Open qualifying, Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley
- Tuesday, January 23 (7pm): Ronnie O'Sullivan v Alfie Burden (Eng) – 1st round (round of 128) (best of nine frames)
German Masters, Tempodrom, Berlin
- Monday, January 29 (1pm): Ronnie O'Sullivan v Julien Leclercq (Bel) – 1st round (128) (best of nine frames)
Welsh Open, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
- Monday, February 12: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Liam Graham (Sco) – 1st round (128) (best of seven frames)
Players Championship, Telford International Centre, Telford
- Monday, February 19: Ronnie O'Sullivan v TBC – Last 16 (best of 11 frames)
Championship League, Morningside Arena, Leicester
- Wednesday, February 28 - Thursday, February 29: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Jimmy Robertson – Group 7 (best of five frames)
- Wednesday, February 28 - Thursday, February 29: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Si Jiahui – Group 7 (best of five frames)
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