The Masters 2010 was a prestigious invitational snooker tournament held at Wembley Arena in London, England, running from 10 to 17 January 2010. Sponsored for the first time by PokerStars.com, the event brought together the elite of the snooker world for one of the sport’s most celebrated non-ranking occasions. It delivered a final that fans had already seen the year before, and this time it ended with a different outcome.
Quick Facts
| Champion | Mark Selby |
| Runner-up | Ronnie O’Sullivan |
| Venue | Wembley Arena, London, England |
| Dates | 10 to 17 January 2010 |
Tournament Recap
The 2010 edition of The Masters had a distinctly familiar feel by the time the final came around. Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan had met in the same final twelve months earlier, with O’Sullivan claiming that title. The rematch at Wembley Arena gave Selby a chance to settle the score, and he took it. The Leicester potter, known for his gritty, disciplined safety game and an ability to grind down even the most explosive opponents, produced exactly the kind of performance that has made him one of the most awkward players to face on a snooker table.
O’Sullivan entered the week as the defending champion and the crowd favourite, as is almost always the case when the Rocket shows up at an invitational event. His ability to produce moments of genius in front of a packed arena has made him the natural draw at venues like Wembley, and the 2010 edition was no different. He navigated his way through the earlier rounds and returned to the final looking for back-to-back Masters titles. However, Selby had other ideas, refusing to be drawn into the kind of expansive, high-tempo match that would have suited O’Sullivan. Where O’Sullivan thrives on flow and freedom, Selby is built for pressure, patience, and winning frames by inches rather than miles.
One of the notable storylines heading into the event was the involvement of Mark Williams, who had come through as a wild-card selection and pushed deep into the draw, reaching the semi-finals. It was a reminder that the Masters format, even with its invitation-only structure, can throw up unexpected routes to the latter stages when the right player finds their form at the right moment. Williams joining Jimmy White as a seeded player to have reached the semis from the wild-card round added a layer of interest to what was already a strong field.
The tournament also marked the beginning of a new commercial chapter for the event, with PokerStars.com coming on board as the title sponsor for the first time. Wembley Arena continued to provide a high-energy backdrop, with thousands of fans creating an atmosphere that few venues in snooker can match. For Selby, lifting the trophy in front of that crowd represented a significant moment in his career, a statement that he belonged among the very best and that his victory over O’Sullivan in the final was no fluke of format or circumstance but the result of a player at the top of his game imposing his will on the sport’s most naturally gifted performer.
Final Thoughts
The 2010 Masters delivered exactly what the event promises every January: top-level snooker, a passionate crowd, and a final worth remembering. Mark Selby’s victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan was built on discipline and tactical precision rather than fireworks, but that made it no less impressive. If anything, beating O’Sullivan by refusing to play his game is one of the harder things to accomplish in snooker. It was the kind of win that earns respect from players and fans alike, and it set a tone for the type of champion Selby would become in the years that followed. Whether you were in the arena or watching from home, the 2010 edition gave snooker supporters exactly the kind of high-stakes, personality-driven theatre that makes this tournament one of the most anticipated weeks of the snooker calendar year after year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won The Masters 2010?
Mark Selby won The Masters 2010, defeating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final. It was a rematch of the 2009 final, which O’Sullivan had won, making Selby’s victory a settling of scores from the previous year.
Where was The Masters 2010 held?
The tournament was held at Wembley Arena in London, England. The venue provided a high-energy atmosphere with thousands of fans in attendance throughout the week.
When did The Masters 2010 take place?
The Masters 2010 ran from 10 to 17 January 2010. It is one of the most anticipated weeks on the snooker calendar each year.
Who sponsored The Masters 2010?
PokerStars.com sponsored The Masters 2010, marking the first time the online poker company had come on board as title sponsor for the event. It represented the beginning of a new commercial chapter for the tournament.
Which player reached the semi-finals as a wild-card at The Masters 2010?
Mark Williams came through as a wild-card selection and reached the semi-finals of The Masters 2010. His run was noted as one of the notable storylines of the tournament, drawing a comparison to Jimmy White as a seeded wild-card player to have reached the semi-final stage.