Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins Gear Up for Masters with New Year Exhibition in China

 Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins Gear Up for Masters with New Year Exhibition in China

Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins are set to face off in a thrilling opening-round match at the upcoming Masters, but first, they will warm up for the event with an exhibition clash in China just days before.

The two snooker legends will headline an exciting line-up at the exhibition in Hangzhou, taking place from January 1 to 3. Alongside O’Sullivan and Higgins, other top stars like Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Xiao Guodong, and Jack Lisowski will also compete in the CBSA Snooker Superstar Invitational Tournament, marking the start of 2025 in China.

Though the exhibition is purely for entertainment, the proximity of O’Sullivan and Higgins’ showdown at Alexandra Palace—scheduled just 10 days later—could add an extra competitive edge to their encounter in Hangzhou.

Higgins will also face off against Mark Williams, while O’Sullivan will take on Ding Junhui in another match at the event.

O’Sullivan has made the journey to Hangzhou from Macau, where he triumphed in all five of his matches at the Macau Masters exhibition event. The seven-time world champion secured victories over Jack Lisowski, Marco Fu, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, and Stuart Bingham during the competition, which kicked off on Christmas Day.

Reflecting on his busy festive schedule, O’Sullivan mentioned his travels during the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship earlier this month, acknowledging that it might not be the perfect preparation for the Masters. "I get back maybe 3 or 4 of January," O’Sullivan said in Riyadh. "I’m here [Riyadh], then Macau for a week, then China for 3-4 days, then I’m coming home."