Eighteen snooker players will be assembling at Wembley Arena next week, as they bid to become the 2009 Masters champion. No prizes for guessing the market leader, although the jury is out over whether Ronnie O’Sullivan is value at 3/1 (Coral). While he’s undoubtedly the most talented potter in the world, you wouldn’t make a profit from backing the Londoner in every tournament he plays in, while his UK Championship last sixteen exit at the hands of Joe Perry laid bare his fragile temperament.

Coincidentally, the pair meet again in the Masters, with Perry’s odds (25/1 Paddy Power) sure to tumble if he makes the quarter final stages. Indeed, there are some humdinger second round matches, including Shaun Murphy (11/1 Boylesports) against Ding Junhui (12/1 Stan James). The former was victorious at Telford last December and could catch his Chinese opponent cold next week.

Leicester’s Mark Selby was an impressive winner of this tournament in 2007, and the holder is 7/1 (bet direct) to retain his crown, something that no player has done since Paul Hunter in 2002. Stephen Maguire is also respected by the layers, with Ladbrokes offering a best price 8/1 that the Scot gets 2009 off to a bang by not only reaching his first Masters final, but by winning the entire competition.

Someone who makes appeal at a slightly bigger price is Ali Carter (18/1 Stan James), especially as he plays the out-of-form Peter Ebdon (40/1 Skybet) in the second round. The Captain was in sparkling form last week when reaching the semi-finals of the Championship League and it shouldn’t be forgotten that he reached the final of the World Championship last year. The winner in Essex last Thursday was Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, so it’s something of a surprise to see him priced at 33/1 (Victor Chandler) for a repeat success here.