How much prize money has Ronnie O'Sullivan gifted rivals by missing Masters? Chris Wakelin becomes latest snooker player to cash in

Ronnie O'Sullivan is the record eight-time winner of the Masters in London, but the seven-time world champion has also opted out of appearing at the sport's premier invitational event on four occasions since 2013. Chris Wakelin will become the latest player to benefit from O'Sullivan's absence when he takes on Neil Robertson on Wednesday night. Watch the Masters live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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Chris Wakelin will become the latest beneficiary of Ronnie O'Sullivan's decision to give the Masters a miss when he takes on Neil Robertson in his tournament opener at London's Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night.

Citing medical reasons, O'Sullivan has pulled out of the game's greatest invitational tournament twice over the past two years, with his last appearance at the event seeing him complete a 10-7 win over Ali Carter in the 2024 final.

Wakelin will join Carter, Robertson and Mark Davis as the quartet of players to pick up an unexpected financial bonus worth £174,000 and counting by earning a call-up to replace O'Sullivan at the Ally Pally.

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In the case of Carter, it helped him collect £100,000 after he replaced his old foe and defeated Mark Selby (6-4), John Higgins (6-3) and Shaun Murphy (6-3) to reach the final in 2020, narrowly losing 10-8 to Stuart Bingham in the quest for the £250,000 first prize.

Speaking after coming across O'Sullivan working for Eurosport at the time, Carter said: "I’ve done a couple of interviews in the studio, and he seems very pleased for me. I said 'thanks, Ron'."

With O'Sullivan opting to take the season off between his world title victories in 2012 and 2013, world No. 17 Mark Davis was granted a Masters spot 13 years ago, and picked up £9,000 despite losing 6-2 to Mark Allen in the first round.

Neil Robertson stepped in at the last minute last year after O'Sullivan smashed up his old cue at the Championship League before withdrawing only two days before his tournament opener with Higgins.

And he rallied from 5-1 behind to claim a 6-5 victory over Higgins that was worth £40,000 despite going down 6-2 to Murphy in the quarter-finals.

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How much, then, does world No. 14 Wakelin stand to make this year by replacing the Rocket?

Well, the Scottish Open champion is guaranteed a cheque for £25,000 just by turning up for the final last-16 tie on Wednesday, with quarter-finalists earning £40,000, semi-finalists £75,000 and a spot in the final worth £140,000.

If Wakelin, who watched O'Sullivan earn £180,333 by producing two 147s in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, is involved in the title match on Sunday, he would be chasing a cheque worth £350,000 for the winner.

Stranger things have happened in snooker.

And continue to happen, with nobody predicting O'Sullivan, the youngest and oldest winner of the Masters, would fail to appear at the Ally Pally for a second straight season.

"I was very surprised," Allen told TNT Sports about when he was made aware of O’Sullivan’s absence.

"I was practising with him just before the UK [Championship] and what he was saying, he was leaning towards playing here.

"I hope that whatever has gone on he is okay because the game is better with him in it."

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In the money at the Masters

2013: Mark Davis (Eng) - £9,000
2020: Ali Carter (Eng) - £100,000
2025: Neil Robertson (Aus) - £40,000
2026: Chris Wakelin (Eng) - £25,000 and counting

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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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