Simply reaching the Masters once is a career highlight for many players, but receiving an invitation 20 times places you in a far more exclusive category.
On Wednesday at the 2026 Masters, Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson will each make their 20th Masters appearances, underlining just how difficult it is to remain part of snooker’s elite across two full decades.
Ding faces world number one Judd Trump, while Robertson takes on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s replacement Chris Wakelin, with both matches adding historical significance to the opening round at Alexandra Palace.
Only seven players in the history of the tournament have previously reached the milestone.
Below is a look at every player with 20 or more Masters appearances, with context on what they achieved in London and why their presence in the event has endured for so long.
John Higgins will make his record-extending 32nd Masters appearance when he takes on Barry Hawkins in the opening round this year.
The Scot reached the final on his debut in 1995 and proceeded to capture the title on two occasions, winning dramatic finals in both 1999 and 2006.
Strangely for a player who has an unbroken streak of appearances spanning three decades, Higgins doesn’t actually have the best of records overall with 16 first-round exits.
However, the 50 year-old’s longevity at the top has been incredible and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him lift the trophy aloft once more in his career.
But for a few withdrawals and non-entries, including at this year’s event, Ronnie O’Sullivan would have the record himself.
But as it is, the Rocket boasts 29 Masters appearances from which he possesses a staggering haul of eight titles from 14 finals.
O’Sullivan first appeared in 1994 and subsequently emerged with the silverware for the first time a year later with a final victory over Higgins – sparking a long rivalry between the pair.
The 50 year-old proceeded to add glories in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2024 as his name became synonymous with the tournament’s history.
Mark Williams is another 50 year-old who shows no genuine signs that his chances of appearing at the Masters are coming to an end.
The Welshman played in the event for the first time in 1995 before winning arguably the most famous Masters final three years later.
Against Stephen Hendry in 1998, Williams held his nerve under extraordinary circumstances to pip a 10-9 thriller on a respotted black.
The former world number one then won the tournament again in 2003 in the middle of a remarkable spell during which he won all three Triple Crown titles in the same season.
Jimmy White is joint-fourth on this list with 27 appearances, half of which you’re probably wisecracking were as wildcards.
The truth is, White was a permanent presence in the highest echelons of the game during his heyday and received the wildcard invitation just five times.
Playing in his hometown and adored by his fans, the Whirlwind was by far the most popular player – a situation that both helped and hindered him at times.
White won the title in 1984 and reached the final again two years later, but there were several disappointments in semi-finals – including eight times between 1990 and 2005.
Steve Davis also has 27 appearances, making his Masters debut in 1981 and duly securing a maiden triumph a year later.
But unlike at the World Championship or the UK Championship, Davis was unable to orchestrate a dominant period in this event.
The Nugget added two more crowns to his collection, in 1988 when he thrashed Mike Hallett 9-0 and in 1997 when he rolled back the years with a brilliant victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Stephen Hendry may not have won the most Masters titles and he may not possess the most appearances overall.
But the Scot undoubtedly boasts the most eye-catching record when it comes to his involvement in the prestigious tournament.
Hendry first received an invitation in 1989 and went on an incredible unbeaten streak until the 1994 final that spanned six tournaments and included five victories in a row.
Hendry added a sixth Masters title in 1996.
Shaun Murphy won the now defunct Masters qualifying competition to make his debut appearance as an 18 year-old in 2001.
The Magician wouldn’t return until 2006 when he was the reigning world champion, but he has been an ever-present in the tournament since.
Murphy won the 2015 Masters to complete the career Triple Crown set and made it a double a year ago with a fine triumph over Kyren Wilson.
The Englishman is one of only five players in the tournament’s history to make a maximum 147 break.
Another player to compile a Masters maximum is Ding Junhui. In fact, he’s done it twice.
Ding made his Masters debut in 2004 and reached the final for the first time in 2007, when he was given a humbling experience in an emotional defeat to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
But four years on and the most successful player from China had the silverware in his hands, beating Marco Fu in the sport’s first all-Asian snooker final.
Ding will make his 20th Masters appearance against Judd Trump on Wednesday afternoon.
Joining Ding on 20 appearances in 2026 is Neil Robertson, who like the others on this list is another former champion of the event.
Robertson made his debut in 2004 and has almost been an ever-present since 2007, bar one badly timed week in the rankings that led to his failure to gain an invitation for the 2017 edition.
The Australian is a two-time former Masters champion, winning at the Alexandra Palace’s first staging in 2012 and backing it up with another ten years later in 2022.
Robertson will make his latest Masters appearance against Chris Wakelin on Wednesday evening.
Featured photo credit: WST
