Race to the Masters 2020: Two to Go

There are now just two ranking events remaining before the all-important seeding cut-off to determine the field for this season’s Dafabet Masters.

• View the latest standings in the Race to the Masters
• View the prize money schedule for the 2019/20 season

Won last season for the first time by current world number one Judd Trump, snooker’s most prestigious invitational event returns to the Alexandra Palace from 12-19 January 2020 and will feature the world’s top 16 ranked players following the upcoming Northern Ireland Open and ultimately next month’s UK Championship. This period therefore includes all prize money earned at ranking events from the 2017 Scottish Open up to and including the 2019 UK Championship in York. These points are illustrated on the latest Race to the Masters table.

Safe Zone

With a lead of over £90,000 to 17th position, 13th placed Jack Lisowski (£352,750) and each of the players above him look all but certain to qualify to play at the Alexandra Palace in January.

Notably, 10th placed David Gilbert (£410,000) is among those comfortably inside the top 16 and set to make his Masters debut after nearly 20 years as a professional.

Danger Zone

The real fight to qualify however is between those ranked 14-17 with the quartet of players separated by just £17,750 and a potential £270,000 to be won by a player who can win each of the two upcoming events.

Among them include 2011 Masters champion Ding Junhui (£279,750) and two-time quarter-finalist Ali Carter (£271,500), while Scotland’s Stephen Maguire (£263,000) has the narrowest of leads to 2017 runner-up Joe Perry (£262,000), who leads the chasing pack just £1,000 behind.

With a significant amount of prize money still to be won, those behind cannot be discounted with Gary Wilson (£247,100), Graeme Dott (£220,250) and notably Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (£217,725) after his run to last week’s World Open final, among those also still within range with good performances at one or both of the next two tournaments.

The next counting event will be the Northern Ireland Open to be held at the Belfast Waterfront from 11-17 November and the draw for that tournament is available to view online here.

Follow the Race to the Masters table for all of the latest updates during the coming weeks…