Quick Facts
| Champion | Ronnie O’Sullivan |
| Runner-up | Ali Carter |
| Final Score | 10-7 |
| Venue | Alexandra Palace, London |
The 2024 Masters was the 50th edition of one of snooker’s most celebrated invitation events, held at Alexandra Palace in London. Part of the sport’s Triple Crown alongside the UK Championship and the World Snooker Championship, The Masters once again drew the best 16 players in the world for a week of high-pressure, no-ranking snooker that the game’s fans never tire of. This year’s edition delivered something genuinely historic: Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed a record eighth Masters title, cementing a legacy at this venue that no other player comes close to matching.
Tournament Recap
From the moment the draw was made, the tournament had the feel of one that could belong to O’Sullivan. At 48 years old, he arrived at Alexandra Palace with questions hanging over his form and physical sharpness, yet the Rocket has always saved something extra for this particular event. The round-robin and knockout format at Alexandra Palace creates an atmosphere unlike any other stop on the tour, with a partisan crowd that wills the big names through, and O’Sullivan has historically fed off that energy better than anyone.
The matches leading up to the final saw some compelling snooker across the field. The tournament brought together the top names in the game, and the early rounds did not disappoint, with century breaks and tense deciding frames setting the tone throughout the week. What stood out in the buildup to the final, however, was the form of Ali Carter, who was making a deep run and reminding everyone that when he is locked in, he can trouble the very best. Carter had reached the final by playing some of the most disciplined snooker of the week, and he arrived at the last stage having built real momentum.
The final itself was a compelling contest that swung in Carter’s favour early. Carter came out aggressive and purposeful, building a lead and at one point going 6-3 ahead of O’Sullivan, which in a best-of-19-frame final is a substantial cushion. Most players in the world would have held that lead. But O’Sullivan, drawing on four decades of professional experience and a mental toughness that still sets him apart from the field, refused to buckle. He reeled off frames with increasing authority, redirecting the momentum entirely and eventually running out a 10-7 winner. The comeback was controlled rather than flashy, which in many ways made it more impressive. He did not need a string of century breaks to turn the match around. He simply tightened every area of his game and made Carter pay for even the smallest loose shot.
The victory was historic in every sense. According to the Masters (snooker) Wikipedia entry, O’Sullivan’s win made him the tournament’s oldest ever champion, claiming the title at 48 years and 40 days old. He is also the youngest ever winner of the event, having first lifted the trophy in 1995 aged 19 years and 69 days. No other player in the history of the sport holds that combination of records at a Triple Crown event. Eight Masters titles is a number that feels almost impossible to contextualise. The next most successful players at Alexandra Palace have won the event a fraction of that number of times. For O’Sullivan, this was not just another trophy. It was confirmation that even deep into his 40s, he remains capable of winning snooker’s most glamorous events when the occasion demands it.
Key Storylines
O’Sullivan’s Remarkable Record
Eight Masters titles. The number keeps growing and the achievement keeps getting harder to process. O’Sullivan’s dominance at Alexandra Palace is without precedent in the modern game. His ability to show up at this specific event and deliver in the biggest moments, regardless of his stated feelings about his form or motivation, is one of the defining quirks of his extraordinary career. Every time he wins here, the record becomes more untouchable.
Ali Carter’s Final Run
Carter deserves real credit for his performance throughout the week. The Captain is a player who has never quite received the recognition his talent warrants, and reaching the final of The Masters is no small feat given the calibre of the field. His 6-3 lead in the final showed no nerves whatsoever and suggested he had the game to go all the way. That O’Sullivan came back from that deficit only underlines how difficult the Rocket is to put away, not that Carter played poorly down the stretch. It was a strong tournament from a player who continues to compete at the highest level.
Alexandra Palace Atmosphere
Anyone who has watched snooker at Alexandra Palace knows that the venue plays its own role in the tournament. The crowd is knowledgeable, loud, and not remotely shy about showing who they want to win. In 2024 the atmosphere during the final was exactly what fans expect from this event, electric at the turning points and creating a sense of occasion that very few snooker venues can replicate. If you are a fan thinking about attending in a future year, understanding the unique environment starts with the equipment on the table, and a quality set of snooker tables in clubs and venues up and down the country is what produces the players who eventually get to compete under those lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2024 Masters snooker?
Ronnie O’Sullivan won the 2024 Masters, defeating Ali Carter 10-7 in the final at Alexandra Palace. It was a record eighth Masters title for O’Sullivan.
What was the score in the 2024 Masters final?
The final score was 10-7 in favour of Ronnie O’Sullivan. Carter led 6-3 at one point before O’Sullivan turned the match around to win comfortably in the end.
How many Masters titles has Ronnie O’Sullivan won?
O’Sullivan has won The Masters eight times, more than any other player in the history of the event. His 2024 victory made him the tournament’s oldest ever champion at 48 years and 40 days old.
Where is the Masters snooker played?
The Masters is held at Alexandra Palace in London, a venue famous for its passionate crowd and unique atmosphere that sets it apart from most other stops on the snooker tour.
Is the Masters a ranking event in snooker?
No, The Masters is a non-ranking invitation event, restricted to the world’s top 16 players. Despite carrying no ranking points, it is one of the most prestigious titles in the sport as part of the Triple Crown alongside the UK Championship and the World Snooker Championship.