# 2006 Masters (snooker)

The 2006 Masters (officially the 2006 SAGA Insurance Masters) was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place from 15 to 22 January 2006 at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, England. It was the 32nd edition of the tournament, and the last time that the tournament was held at this venue. The tournament was part of the 2005/2006 season.
John Higgins won his 2nd Masters title by defeating defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 10–9 in a reverse of last year's final.

## Field

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was the number 1 seed with World Champion Shaun Murphy seeded 2. Places were allocated to the leading players in the world rankings. With Murphy having a ranking of 21, Ian McCulloch, ranked 16, was not an automatic invitation. Players seeded 15 and 16 played in the wild-card round against the winner of the qualifying event, Stuart Bingham (ranked 37), and McCulloch, who was the wild-card selection. Stuart Bingham and Ian McCulloch were making their debuts in the Masters.

## Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:

### Qualifying stage

* Winner: £2,000
* Runner-up: £680
* Semi-final: £250
* Quarter-final: £105
* Total: £3,600

### Televised stage
## Wild-card round

In the preliminary "wild-card round", the two wild-card players were drawn against the players seeded 15th and 16th:
| Match | Date | | Score | |
| WC1 | Sunday 15 January | Joe Perry (ENG) (15) | 3–6 | Ian McCulloch (ENG) |
| WC2 | Sunday 15 January | Steve Davis (ENG) (16) | 4–6 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) |

## Main draw

| Last 16 Best of 11 frames | Last 16 Best of 11 frames | Last 16 Best of 11 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | Semi-finals Best of 11 frames | | Final Best of 19 frames | Final Best of 19 frames | Final Best of 19 frames |
| 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ian McCulloch (ENG) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ian McCulloch (ENG) | 0 | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Peter Ebdon (ENG) | 6 | 8 | Peter Ebdon | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 4 | | | | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | |
| 5 | Matthew Stevens (WAL) | 3 | | | | | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 5 | | | | |
| 14 | Graeme Dott (SCO) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Graeme Dott (SCO) | 6 | 14 | Graeme Dott | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 11 | Stephen Lee | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Stephen Maguire (SCO) | 0 | 11 | Stephen Lee | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Stephen Lee (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Stephen Lee (ENG) | 6 | | | | | | | | 1 | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 7 | John Higgins | 10 |
| 3 | Stephen Hendry (SCO) | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | John Higgins | 10 |
| 13 | Alan McManus (SCO) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Alan McManus (SCO) | 6 | 13 | Alan McManus | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Paul Hunter (ENG) | 3 | 10 | Mark Williams | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Mark Williams (WAL) | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Mark Williams (WAL) | 6 | | | | 13 | Alan McManus | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| 7 | John Higgins (SCO) | 6 | | | | | | | 7 | John Higgins | 6 | | | | |
| 9 | Jimmy White (ENG) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Jimmy White (ENG) | 3 | 7 | John Higgins | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Shaun Murphy (ENG) | 6 | 2 | Shaun Murphy | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Ken Doherty (IRL) | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Final

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: Eirian Williams Wembley Conference Centre, London, England, 22 January 2006. :
| Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) England | 9–10 | John Higgins (7) Scotland |
| Afternoon: 60–48, 139–0 (139), 138–0 (138), 0–73 (73), 0–80 (80), 20–48, 27–66, 0–71 Evening: 91–44 (91), 100–30 (56), 0–81 (81), 6–86 (68), 72–46, 100–5 (100), 1–71 (62), 62–53, 65–5 (58), 1–83, 60–64 (60, 64) |||
| 139 | Highest break | 80 |
| 3 | Century breaks | 0 |
| 7 | 50+ breaks | 6 |

## Qualifying

The 2005 Masters Qualifying Event was held between 20 and 23 November 2005 at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales. The winner who qualified for the tournament, was Stuart Bingham.
| Last 48 Best of 7 frames | Last 48 Best of 7 frames | Last 48 Best of 7 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 32 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Last 16 Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Quarter-finals Best of 9 frames | Semi-finals Best of 9 frames | Semi-finals Best of 9 frames | Semi-finals Best of 9 frames | Final Best of 11 frames | Final Best of 11 frames | Final Best of 11 frames |
| | | | Anthony Hamilton | Anthony Hamilton | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 4 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 4 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Jogia | Joe Jogia | 3 | | | | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Jogia | Joe Jogia | 3 | | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 5 | Tony Drago | Tony Drago | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| James Tatton | James Tatton | 1 | Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| James Tatton | James Tatton | 1 | Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 1 | | | | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | |
| Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 4 | | | | | | | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 5 | | | | | |
| Simon Bedford | Simon Bedford | 4 | | | | | | | Barry Hawkins | Barry Hawkins | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | Barry Hawkins | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | Barry Hawkins | Barry Hawkins | 3 | | | | | |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 1 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Matthew Couch | Matthew Couch | 1 | Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 2 | Barry Hawkins | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 4 | | | | Barry Hawkins | Barry Hawkins | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Andrew Norman | Andrew Norman | 4 | | | | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Robert Milkins | Robert Milkins | w/d | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 4 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | w/o | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | 4 | Patrick Wallace | Patrick Wallace | w/o | | | | | | | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 4 | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | | | Rory McLeod | Rory McLeod | 4 | | |
| Rod Lawler | Rod Lawler | 2 | | | | | | | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | |
| | | | Nigel Bond | Nigel Bond | 4 | | | | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 4 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 4 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 5 | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilson | Gary Wilson | 0 | | | | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Gary Wilson | Gary Wilson | 0 | | | | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Gerard Greene | Gerard Greene | 0 | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | w/o | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michael Judge | Michael Judge | w/o | Michael Judge | Michael Judge | 5 | | | | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 0 | | | | | |
| Adam Davies | Adam Davies | w/d | | | | | | | Marcus Campbell | Marcus Campbell | 0 | | | | | |
| Adam Davies | Adam Davies | w/d | | | | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | |
| Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 3 | David Roe | David Roe | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ricky Walden | Ricky Walden | 3 | David Roe | David Roe | 2 | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 4 | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| David Roe | David Roe | 4 | | | | Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | David Gray | David Gray | 2 | Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 4 | Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 4 | Robin Hull | Robin Hull | 5 | | | | | | | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 6 |
| Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stuart Bingham | Stuart Bingham | 6 |
| Mark Allen | Mark Allen | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 3 |
| | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 3 |
| Justin Astley | Justin Astley | w/o | Justin Astley | Justin Astley | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Justin Astley | Justin Astley | w/o | Justin Astley | Justin Astley | 2 | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| James McBain | James McBain | w/d | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| James McBain | James McBain | w/d | | | | Ryan Day | Ryan Day | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ryan Day | Ryan Day | 5 | Ryan Day | Ryan Day | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Norbury | Chris Norbury | 2 | Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chris Norbury | Chris Norbury | 2 | Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 3 | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | |
| Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 4 | | | | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | | | | |
| Alfie Burden | Alfie Burden | 4 | | | | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | Neil Robertson | Neil Robertson | 2 | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 4 | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | w/o | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | w/o | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | w/d | | | | Fergal O'Brien | Fergal O'Brien | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Brian Morgan | Brian Morgan | w/d | | | | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Marco Fu | Marco Fu | 2 | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Spick | Lee Spick | w/o | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee Spick | Lee Spick | w/o | Lee Spick | Lee Spick | 5 | | | | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | w/d | | | | | | | | | | Ali Carter | Ali Carter | 5 | | | |
| Sean Storey | Sean Storey | w/d | | | | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 3 | | | |
| | | | Michael Holt | Michael Holt | 5 | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 3 | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 2 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dave Harold | Dave Harold | 2 | Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 2 | Michael Holt | Michael Holt | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 4 | | | | Michael Holt | Michael Holt | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Judd Trump | Judd Trump | 4 | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Mark Selby | Mark Selby | 2 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 4 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 4 | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | |
| Stuart Mann | Stuart Mann | 0 | | | | | | | Joe Swail | Joe Swail | 5 | | | | | | |
| Stuart Mann | Stuart Mann | 0 | | | | | | | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | John Parrott | John Parrott | 0 | | | | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 4 | | | | | | |
| Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 4 | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 4 | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 5 | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Leo Fernandez | Leo Fernandez | 2 | | | | Jamie Cope | Jamie Cope | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Leo Fernandez | Leo Fernandez | 2 | | | | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Barry Pinches | Barry Pinches | 2 | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Tom Ford | Tom Ford | 3 | Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ding Junhui | Ding Junhui | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Century breaks
### Televised stage centuries

Total: 11
* 139, 138, 100 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
* 138, 100 – Peter Ebdon
* 116, 102 – Graeme Dott
* 115, 101 – Shaun Murphy
* 110 – John Higgins
* 101 – Stephen Lee