Defending champion Shaun Murphy began his Masters title defense on January 11 at London’s Alexandra Palace but was eliminated in the first round by young Chinese player Wu Yize. Other notable losses included former winner Mark Selby, while Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew for medical reasons. The tournament, featuring a record five Chinese players, is part of snooker’s Triple Crown events, with Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson advancing to the semi-finals.
