Quick Facts
| Champion | Ronnie O’Sullivan |
| Runner-up | Barry Hawkins |
| Final Score | 10-1 |
| Venue | Alexandra Palace, London, England |
| Dates | 10-17 January 2016 |
The 2016 Masters was a ranking invitational snooker tournament held at Alexandra Palace in London, marking the 42nd edition of one of the sport’s most prestigious events. It produced some breathtaking snooker throughout the week before culminating in a one-sided final that had the crowd talking for months.
Tournament Recap
The tournament kicked off on 10 January with an immediate shock. Defending champion Shaun Murphy went out in the first round against Mark Allen, losing 4-6. The match contained a moment that will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons: Murphy forfeited the sixth frame after missing a red on three consecutive occasions, handing that frame to Allen under the rules. It was a brutal way for the title holder to exit, but it set the tone for a week packed with drama right from the opening session.
The quarter-finals delivered more fireworks, and the standout match was unquestionably the clash between Judd Trump and Neil Robertson. The pair produced a century-laden thriller, a 6-5 contest that featured six centuries and the two highest breaks of the entire tournament. Trump edged through to the semi-finals in a match that reminded everyone why snooker fans travel from all over to pack Alexandra Palace’s famous hall. On the other side of the draw, Ronnie O’Sullivan continued to look composed and dangerous, putting together the kind of calculated, flowing snooker that has made him the most watchable player of his generation.
The semi-finals brought the week’s business end into sharp focus. O’Sullivan dispatched World Champion Stuart Bingham 6-3 in a performance that showed just how much command he had over his game at this tournament. In the other semi, Barry Hawkins got past the talented Trump 6-4, setting up a final between two players with very different energy levels heading into Sunday. Hawkins had ground out two solid results. O’Sullivan was playing like a man in a different gear entirely. Fans following the draw at that point probably sensed what was coming.
The final on 17 January confirmed every suspicion. O’Sullivan was merciless, ruthless, and frankly brilliant, beating Hawkins 10-1 in a performance that barely gave the Hawk a look in. It was a scoreline that, on paper, sounds like an exaggeration, but it reflected exactly what happened on the table. O’Sullivan’s long game was immaculate, his safety play suffocating, and his scoring relentless. The victory pulled him level with Stephen Hendry on six Masters titles, a record that had seemed untouchable for years. For O’Sullivan, a player who has had a complicated relationship with the sport over the course of his career, claiming a sixth Masters crown at Alexandra Palace, a venue he has always seemed to thrive in, felt genuinely historic. You can read more about the history of this iconic event on the The Masters tournament overview page.
Key Moments and Talking Points
- Murphy’s forfeited frame: The defending champion giving up a frame by missing a red three times in succession was unprecedented at this level. It handed Allen a psychological boost and contributed to a 4-6 exit that nobody saw coming.
- Trump vs Robertson: Six centuries in a 6-5 quarter-final is the kind of match that ends up in highlight reels for years. Both players were at or near their best, and Trump advancing was by no means a certainty until the final ball.
- O’Sullivan’s 10-1 final demolition: Matching Hendry’s record six Masters titles with a performance that dominant was a statement. The scoreline was not a fluke or a quirk. O’Sullivan won nearly every frame with authority.
- Hawkins’ semi-final run: Credit to Hawkins for defeating Trump and making a final at one of snooker’s biggest stages. The 10-1 scoreline does not diminish what he achieved across the week to get there.
Final Verdict
The 2016 edition of The Masters delivered everything you want from this tournament. Early upsets, high-quality century-laden battles in the middle rounds, and a final that was, depending on your loyalties, either a clinical masterclass or a difficult watch. O’Sullivan equalling one of snooker’s great records at a venue where he has always looked at home was the perfect ending to a week of top-level snooker. Alexandra Palace once again proved why it remains the ideal setting for invitational snooker at its finest, an intimate, atmospheric arena where the crowd is close to the action and great snooker finds the amplification it deserves. If you are a snooker fan who missed this one, find a recording of the Trump-Robertson quarter-final. It is well worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2016 Masters snooker tournament?
Ronnie O’Sullivan won the 2016 Masters, defeating Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the final held on 17 January at Alexandra Palace in London.
What record did Ronnie O’Sullivan equal at the 2016 Masters?
O’Sullivan’s victory pulled him level with Stephen Hendry on six Masters titles, matching a record that had long been considered untouchable.
What happened to defending champion Shaun Murphy at the 2016 Masters?
Murphy was eliminated in the first round by Mark Allen, losing 6-4, and notably forfeited the sixth frame after missing a red on three consecutive occasions, which was unprecedented at this level.
Which quarter-final match was considered the standout contest of the 2016 Masters?
The quarter-final between Judd Trump and Neil Robertson was widely regarded as the match of the tournament, a thrilling 6-5 contest that featured six centuries and the two highest breaks of the entire event, with Trump advancing.
Where and when was the 2016 Masters held?
The 2016 Masters took place at Alexandra Palace in London, England, running from 10 to 17 January 2016 and marking the 42nd edition of the tournament.