Quick Facts
| Champion | Ronnie O’Sullivan |
| Runner-up | Mark Selby |
| Final Score | 10-4 |
| Venue | Alexandra Palace, London, England |
| Dates | 12-19 January 2014 |
| Sponsor | Dafabet |
The 2014 Masters was the prestigious invitational snooker event held at Alexandra Palace in London, bringing together the sport’s elite for one of the most celebrated weeks on the snooker calendar. Ronnie O’Sullivan delivered a commanding final performance to claim his fifth Masters title, cementing his place as the greatest player in the history of this particular tournament.
Tournament Recap
From the opening sessions it was clear this edition of The Masters had all the ingredients for something special. The field, as always, was restricted to the top 16 players in the world rankings, meaning every match carried serious weight. Alexandra Palace provided its usual electric atmosphere, with a partisan London crowd that loves nothing more than seeing big names go at each other across a full-size snooker table. The 2014 edition did not disappoint on that front, delivering several tight contests before the draw gradually opened up toward a final that almost everyone wanted to see.
Ronnie O’Sullivan moved through the draw with the kind of efficiency that separates him from the rest of the field on his best days. Described by observers at the time as close to unplayable during certain sessions, O’Sullivan’s potting was sharp, his safety was precise, and his break-building had that characteristic fluency that makes him so difficult to contain. Reaching the final also meant O’Sullivan had now appeared in ten Masters finals, breaking Stephen Hendry’s previous record of nine. That milestone alone told the story of how dominant O’Sullivan has been at this specific venue and in this specific event over the course of his career.
On the other side of the draw, Mark Selby came in as the defending champion, having taken the title the year before. Selby is exactly the kind of opponent that tests every element of your game. His safety play is relentless, his tactical awareness is elite, and he rarely hands opponents easy opportunities. Getting past Selby in a major final requires a player to be at their absolute best and to handle the grind of a long match without losing focus. In the lead-up to the final, Selby had shown his usual steel, but the final itself turned into something quite different from the tight tactical battle many were expecting.
O’Sullivan was dominant from the start of the final, racing to an early lead and never really allowing Selby to settle into his rhythm. The defending champion fought to stay in contact but could not find the consistency needed to mount a sustained challenge. O’Sullivan ultimately won 10 frames to 4, a scoreline that reflected how one-sided the afternoon had become. It was a masterclass in high-level snooker, with O’Sullivan’s cue ball control and composure under pressure making it look straightforward against a player who is anything but easy to beat. The win gave O’Sullivan his fifth Masters crown, pulling him further clear of every other player in terms of all-time titles at this event. It was also the third time these two had met in a Masters final, with O’Sullivan winning on two of those occasions.
Why This Final Stood Out
The 2014 Masters final gets talked about frequently when people discuss O’Sullivan’s greatest performances in this event, and the reason is simple. Selby is not a soft touch. He is a former world champion and one of the most resilient competitors the sport has produced in the last two decades. When O’Sullivan beats someone of Selby’s calibre by six frames in a major final, making it look controlled and almost calm throughout, that is worth remembering. The Eurosport coverage at the time used the word “unplayable” to describe O’Sullivan during stretches of the match, and watching back, it is hard to argue with that description.
The 2014 edition also marked the first year of Dafabet’s sponsorship of the event, with the tournament now carrying the full title of the Dafabet Masters. That commercial shift did nothing to change what the event means to players and fans. Alexandra Palace remains one of snooker’s great venues, with a crowd that creates genuine noise and passion, and The Masters retains its reputation as one of the sport’s most glamorous weeks regardless of who puts their name on it.
Key Takeaways from 2014
- Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed his fifth Masters title, an all-time record at the time
- O’Sullivan’s tenth Masters final appearance broke Stephen Hendry’s previous record of nine
- Mark Selby entered as defending champion but was beaten convincingly, 10-4
- It was the third Masters final between O’Sullivan and Selby, with O’Sullivan winning twice overall
- Alexandra Palace again proved its worth as the home of this event, providing a memorable atmosphere throughout the week
- The 2014 edition was the first held under Dafabet sponsorship
For anyone who follows snooker closely, the 2014 Masters sits comfortably among O’Sullivan’s finest tournament wins. It was not just the result but the manner of it, clinical and confident against a world-class opponent on snooker’s biggest invitational stage. If you want a deeper look at the full history and context of this tournament, the main page covers every edition in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2014 Masters snooker tournament?
Ronnie O’Sullivan won the 2014 Masters, defeating Mark Selby 10-4 in the final. It was O’Sullivan’s fifth Masters title, an all-time record at the event.
Where and when was the 2014 Masters held?
The 2014 Masters took place at Alexandra Palace in London, England, running from 12 to 19 January 2014.
Who was the defending champion heading into the 2014 Masters?
Mark Selby entered the 2014 Masters as the defending champion, having won the title the year before. Despite his reputation as one of the sport’s most resilient competitors, Selby was beaten convincingly in the final by O’Sullivan.
What record did Ronnie O’Sullivan break by reaching the 2014 Masters final?
By reaching the 2014 final, O’Sullivan made his tenth Masters final appearance, breaking Stephen Hendry’s previous record of nine. This milestone underlined just how dominant O’Sullivan has been at this particular event throughout his career.
Who sponsored the 2014 Masters and what was the full tournament title?
The 2014 edition was sponsored by Dafabet, making it the first Masters held under that sponsorship, with the tournament carrying the full title of the Dafabet Masters.