THE Masters is BACK and the action is heating up as we reach the latter stages.

In 2024, O’Sullivan claimed a record-extending eighth title in the iconic Triple Crown event after Rocket came from behind to beat Ali Carter 10-7 in a thrilling final.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Ali Carter in the Masters final 2024 – but will NOT be defending his crown this time[/caption]

But he will not defend his crown after he withdrew “on medical grounds”, according to a WST statement.

O’Sullivan was replaced by Australian star Neil Robertson.

• Follow all the action from the Masters Snooker as it happens with our LIVE BLOG

The top 16 players in the world rankings at the end of the UK Championship are invited to compete in one of the sport‘s most prestigious tournaments.

In 2025, the prize money on offer has surged to over £1million, with the winner taking home a cool £350,000.

SunSport brings you all the information you need ahead of this year’s Masters.

When is the Masters 2025?

• The Masters 2025 will begin on Sunday, January 12.
• The second Triple Crown event of the year will run until Sunday, January 19.
• London’s Alexandra Palace will host once again.

What TV channel is the Masters 2025 on and can it be live streamed FREE?

• The Masters 2025 will be broadcast LIVE on both Eurosport and the BBC.
• Eurosport customers can live stream all the action via the discovery+ app/website, while fans can also catch all the huge event for FREE on the BBC iPlayer.
• Alternatively, SunSport’s live blog of the Masters 2025 will bring you frame-by-frame updates from every match.

Why isn’t Ronnie O’Sullivan playing at the Masters 2025?

Just two days before the start of the Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew.

He was due to face John Higgins in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday night.

However a statement from the World Snooker Tour said he had “withdrawn on medical grounds“.

He is replaced by Neil Robertson, who was ranked 17th in the world at the cut-off point after the UK Championship.

O’Sullivan has suffered for form in early 2025, with three consecutive defeats in the non-ranking Championship League in Leicester.

The Rocket won a fourth and final game on Wednesday but was then seen smashing his cue on the table multiple times during a 3-2 loss to Robert Milkins on Thursday morning.

O’Sullivan then withdrew from that tournament.

Masters 2025 schedule and draw

Here is the full draw for the opening round and the schedule for the latter stages:

All matches are best of 11 frames until the final, which is the best of 19.

Sunday, January 12
Afternoon session (1pm GMT)

• Neil Robertson 6-5 John Higgins (R1)

Evening session (7pm)

• Shaun Murphy 6-3 Gary Wilson (R1)

Monday, January 13
Afternoon session (1pm)

• Mark Williams 5-6 Ding Junhui (R1)

Evening session (7pm)

• Mark Selby 6-1 Ali Carter (R1)

Tuesday, January 14
Afternoon session (1pm)

• Judd Trump 6-1 Barry Hawkins (R1)

Evening session (7pm)

• Mark Allen 6-2 Si Jiahui (R1)

Wednesday, January 15
Afternoon session (1pm)

• Kyren Wilson 6-4 Zhang Anda (R1)

Evening session (7pm GMT)

• Luca Brecel 6-3 Chris Wakelin (R1)

Quarter-finals

Thursday, January 16

• Neil Robertson 2-6 Shaun Murphy
• 7pm: Mark Allen vs Mark Selby

Friday, January 17

• 1pm: Judd Trump vs Ding Junhui
• 7pm: Kyren Wilson vs Luca Brecel

Semi-finals

Saturday, January 18

• 1pm: Winner of QF3 vs Winner of QF4
• 7pm: Shaun Murphy vs Winner of QF2

Final

Sunday, January 19

• 1pm and 7pm

SHAUN MURPHY was inspired as he put Neil Robertson to the sword to reach the semi-finals of the Masters.

The Magician beat the late call up 6-2 and almost hit a maximum in the final frame – reaching 120 before a missed shot. Later, Mark Allen takes on Mark Selby in the evening session of one of snooker‘s biggest tournaments.

This year we will be guaranteed a new champion after reigning champ Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew from the tournament on medical grounds.

World No1 Judd Trump is on course to win a Triple Crown Grand Slam after he won the UK Championship in December.

• Start time: From 1pm GMT
• TV channel: BBC Two & Four/Eurosport
• Live stream: BBC iPlayer/discovery+

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ANTHONY JOSHUA is being lined up for a shock showdown with long-time rival Deontay Wilder following Tyson Fury’s retirement.

A long-overdue Battle of Britain with Fury was back on the cards after Oleksandr Usyk‘s second straight victory over the Wythenshawe warrior last month.

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Tyson Fury’s second straight defeat seemingly set the table for a showdown with Anthony Joshua[/caption]

INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY

But the Gypsy King seemingly killed off the fight this week by announcing his retirement[/caption]

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Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh will look to pit AJ against Deontay Wilder if Fury can’t be coaxed out of retirement[/caption]

But Fury appeared to kill off the domestic dust-up once and for all this week by hanging up his gloves.

And if a fight with the Gypsy King can’t come to fruition, Saudi bigwig Turki Alalshikh wants to see AJ finally settle the score with long-time rival Wilder.

During an appearance on talkSPORT, Alalshikh said: “If you want something about the British markets, I want to see Joshua and Wilder now.

“If Tyson is not available why not Joshua and Wilder?”

Joshua and Wilder, 35 and 39 respectively, were on course to throw down in 2018 when they held all the heavyweight marbles.

The fight, however, fell through when Wilder opted to face Fury – who he fought to a controversial draw – instead.

A two-fight series worth a whopping £100million was back on the cards for the rivals in December 2023.

But Wilder’s defeat to a resurgent Joseph Parker seemingly put the final nail in the coffin of the once eagerly-anticipated grudge match.

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Deontay Wilder blew a two-fight series with Anthony Joshua in December 2023[/caption]

Wilder will look to save his career with a do-or-die April showdown with journeyman Curtis Harper.

And AJ promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed ‘The Bronze Bomber’ could be an option for the former unified heavyweight champ should he come through Harper.

The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “Deontay Wilder is a fight, I think coming off the defeat people would still love to see.

“If Wilder comes back with a win, looks like he’s scheduled to fight again in February. Dillian Whyte, I don’t know.

“These are just names I’m plucking out, because AJ will fight.”

Hearn, however, believes Fury will come out of retirement to finally put an end to his rivalry with AJ.

He added: “We will see what happens with Tyson Fury in the meantime.

“I can’t see Mr Fury leaving this fight on the table.”

FORMER Coronation Street star signs up for a new role in Death in Paradise as Don Gilet joins the show as a new Inspector.

The much loved show will return with a brand-new series on Friday 31 January to tackle crime on the island of Saint Marie.

Rex

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Eastenders star Don Gilet returns as the new detective in the show[/caption]

Rex Features

Following his debut in the 2024 Christmas special, Don Gilet will return to the show as DI Mervin Wilson.

The former EastEnders actor who played murderer Lucas Johnson is an abrasive Londoner who is decidedly unimpressed with what the island has to offer.

Following the recently cracked case of ‘who shot the Santas?’, along with the revelation that his estranged mother has passed away, Mervin is ready to get back home and leave the island for good.

But when a case close to the hearts of those at the station presents itself, is he tempted to extend his stay?

As Mervin continues to ruffle feathers, the police team pull together to solve some of the island’s most confounding cases yet.

Elsewhere, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) must deal with momentous news from the Chief Commissioner in Jamaica that rocks the police department to its very core.

In an unexpected twist, Naomi (Shantol Jackson) finds herself at an emotional crossroads when an old flame from St Barnabas makes a surprising appearance on the island,

And with the opportunity to learn more about his mother’s life, Mervin begins to discover things may not be all that they seem in Saint Marie.

Making their mark across the series is a host of fantastic guest stars including: Tobi Bakare (Kingsman), reprising his role of Sergeant JP Hooper, Michelle Greenidge (Kaos) and Adam James (The Day of The Jackal).

Also guest starring is Coronation Street‘s Bhavna Limbachia who played Rana Habeeb in the long running soap.

Rana was introduced as a love interest for Zeedan Nazir (Qasim Akhtar) and an old friend of his sister Alya (Sair Khan).

She was the show’s first Muslim lesbian character and her partnership with Faye Brookes, who played her lover Kate Connor has been highlighted amongst fans and the community.

Bhavna played the role for three years until it was announced in 2019 that Rana would be killed off after the actress quit the role.

Her character died with Kate by her side on their wedding day, after being trapped under the rubble in the Underworld factory collapse.

During the investigation into the roof collapse, the cause was determined to be sabotage.

Later, her ghost returned to haunt Carla Connor (Alison King), who knew the factory roof was unsafe because of fire damage.

On the same day, her murderer was revealed to be Gary Windass (Mikey North).

Since then Bhavna has appeared in the comedy sensation Inside No. 9 and the British police procedural drama Ridley.

She currently stars as Meena in the comedy drama Brassic but is it still unknown as to what role she will take in Death in Paradise.

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Rana and Kate together on their hen night on Corrie[/caption]

Death in Paradise returns to BBC and BBCIplayer at 9pm on January 31.

BRITS are losing out on more than £200 worth of unused gadgets they could easily sell, new research reveals.

The average UK household is throwing away or sitting on over £218 of unwanted mobile phones and other gizmos they no longer use.

The Sun

Almost a third (29 per cent) of Brits aren’t aware their unused devices can make them money, according to a study by Virgin Media O2 of 2,002 people.

And only one in ten actually recycle their unwanted smartphones.

Leaving your phone in a draw for months or years on end is also a huge waste, with devices depreciating in value by the day.

Brits, on average, typically take up to three months to trade in their old phone, the poll shows.

O2 Recycle – which is available to anyone, not just O2 customers – offers £136.46 for smartphones on average.

But the scheme also accepts other gadgets you may not expect such as earbuds.

On average, O2 Recycle pays out £53.52.

You can also get cash for old consoles, laptops, tablets and wearables.

“Sell your unwanted mobile, laptop or tech as soon as you’re done with it,” said Regina Mutonono from O2 Recycle.

“The sooner you sell it, the more money you’re likely to get for it.

“You should ensure that the SIM is taken out prior to selling the handset (or memory card where applicable), but don’t worry about your personal data being accessible, as O2 Recycle will wipe data from all devices for you.”

THE UK’s ‘darkest ever’ house is up for auction – with entirely black exterior, ceilings and KITCHEN.

The unique property in Broxburn, West Lothian, has black exterior walls as well as a black front door, black fencing, black decking and even a black shed in the back garden.

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The house has an entirely black exterior, ceilings and kitchen[/caption]

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Located in Broxburn, West Lothian, the semi-detached property has a guide price of £195k[/caption]

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Even the back garden features black decking and matching shed[/caption]

The stairs, floors, as well as most of the ceilings and walls are black too.

Even the kitchen fridge and bathroom are the same shade.

The only variation is dark purple accents – such as curtains, feature walls and sofa cushions, making it a strong contender for the title of the UK’s darkest home.

The listing for the three-bedroom semi-detached home describes “a spacious living area, and roomy kitchen” as well as “additional storage with a good-sized shed and large garage”.

The uniquely furnished property could be yours as it’s available for auction through Prime Property Auctions.

With a guide price of £195,000, the agency is taking offers on the unique home – with the deadline at for 5pm today.

While Broxburn’s all-black property stuns with its moody aesthetic and dark purple accents, Florida’s ultra-narrow home turns heads for its towering defiance of convention.

A bitter land dispute led to a man building a towering 10ft-wide, 19ft-tall house to spite his neighbors – and it’s now worth £500,000.

Developer John Atkins, a resident of Jacksonville, Florida, refused to sell a narrow strip of land situated between two properties, despite repeated demands from his neighbours.

Instead, he decided to make the most of the narrow plot by constructing what’s now known as a “spite house.”

Neighbors were furious, claiming the space was far too tight for a proper home.

But John was determined to prove them wrong.

After initial plans for a 15ft-wide house were rejected by city officials, he came back with an even slimmer design – and regulators couldn’t find any reason to stop it.

The result was a house just 10ft wide and 19ft tall, standing proudly and looking straight into the gardens of the neighbouring properties.

In June 2024, the unusual property was snapped up by new owner Mike Cavanagh for £500,000.

Despite its odd dimensions, Mike is thrilled with his purchase, calling it a “quirky but solid investment.”

Inside, the 1,547-square-foot home features smart built-in storage and custom furniture, including a white oak sofa that Mike says was “pricey but totally worth it.”

While his neighbours might not be fans of the towering house, Mike doesn’t mind.

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The only variations in colour are dark purple accents – such as curtains, feature walls and sofa cushions[/caption]

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The property comprises a spacious living area and three bedrooms[/caption]

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Uniquely furnished, the property is sure to appeal to homeowners seeking an exceptional new home[/caption]

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The agency is taking offers on the unique home[/caption]

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This property is close to Livingston and Edinburgh City Centre[/caption]

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Residents are said to enjoy a strong sense of community, with local parks, schools, and shops enhancing the neighbourhood[/caption]

JAMIE CARRAGHER aimed a dig at Jake Humphrey after Gary Neville said he is going to get a tattoo on his 50th birthday.

Neville made the reveal on The Overlap in front of Liverpool legend Carragher.

YouTube/The Overlap

Jamie Carragher aimed a dig at Jake Humphrey on The Overlap[/caption]

He said: “For my 50th birthday, I’m gonna do ten things I’ve never done before and one of them is get a tattoo.”

And Carragher said, with a sigh: “Honestly, he’s becoming like Jake Humphrey.”

Neville replied with a laugh: “Can that go out? Hi, Jake.”

Former TNT Sports presenter Humphrey has become synonymous with his motivational LinkedIn posts.

The broadcaster – who runs The High Performance Podcast – once came under criticism for his “world class morning routine”.

It consisted of simply waking up at 5am, taking on water and vitamins, and spending ten minutes planning a list for that day.

Humphrey started his career with the BBC and moved into sport while working on radio.

He joined BT Sport – now TNT – in 2012 and was a Premier League and Champions League match-day broadcaster.

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But he left in 2023 as his podcast continued to grow, with the likes boxing legend Tyson Fury, chef Gordon Ramsey and Frank Lampard guests on the show.

Explaining he decision to leave BT, he told The Telegraph last year: “I often felt I was doing High Performance all week, and empathy and understanding and leaning into people.

“Then, on Saturday, I was having conversations about sacking managers and dropping players, criticising decisions made by referees.

“I’d been dreaming for a long time, but not brave enough to take a leap.”

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Jake Humphrey left BT Sport – now TNT – in 2023[/caption]

ACHIEVING a healthy complexion doesn’t always mean you have to shell out on pricey skincare.

I adore wallet-friendly brands like CeraVe and La Roche Posay for their simple, no-nonsense formulas.

But there is one luxury brand that I am a total sucker for: Medik8.

Medik8/The Sun

These are my favourite products from bestselling skincare brand Medik8[/caption]

I still remember the first time I ever tried Medik8.

My product of choice was the brand’s cult Vitamin C serum and – as a religious user of budget serums – I thought there was no way that a £39 serum was going to be worth the price tag.

But how wrong I was.

I’m not sure if it was the lightweight, fast-absorbing formula, or instantly brightening results that did it for me, but after that first use, I was hooked.

Since then, I’ve tried almost everything the brand sells, and have (almost) always been impressed, thanks to Medik8’s innovative, elegant formulas, which deserve their admittedly hefty RRPs.

And, as shoppers continue to race to pop products into their baskets, it seems I’m not alone in my adoration for Medik8.

The Sun

Last year, one in seven orders on beauty retailer Face the Future were Medik8 products, making it the website’s bestselling brand for cleansers and serums, with over 6,000 and 3,000 units sold, respectively.

Founded on a unique CSA principle – which involves using vitamin C and SPF in the morning, followed by a vitamin A (AKA retinoid) at night – Medik8 products are developed in the UK and the brand is a certified B-Corp.

Here are my top picks…

Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream

Medik8

Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, £45

I have combination skin, meaning I suffer from both oiliness and excessive dryness – the joy!

So finding a moisturiser that deeply hydrates my skin without creating a greasy, oily sheen can be tough.

However, I’ve been impressed with this indulgent formula, which has a cooling, almost whipped texture that quickly sinks into skin.

Once applied, the cream claims to keep skin hydrated and moisturised for up to 100 hours, thanks to multi-weight hyaluronic acid – though I still apply mine twice daily.

The innovative formula also helps boost your skin barrier by up to 30% in one hour, reducing the risk of dryness and breakouts caused by harsh weather and pollution.

Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe Serum

Medik8

Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe Serum, £59

Before I begin, I’ve heard very mixed reviews about vitamin C serums.

While I swear by these glow-promoting, skin-clearing formulas, others will experience irritation and sensitivity.

So if you’ve never tried vit C before, I’d advise that you don’t make this £59 Medik8 serum your first rodeo, and instead, I’d suggest dipping your toe in with an inexpensive formula like Botanics Vitamin C Glow Serum, £10.99.

That said, I swear by this C-Tetra Luxe serum – which contains twice the amount of vitamin C of the OG C-Tetra serum – and I have it to thank for clearing and refreshing my skin.

Unlike other vitamin C serums I’ve used, it’s lightweight without being watery and leaves my skin looking brighter and more glowy, even after just one use.

Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum

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This serum floods skin with moisture[/caption]

Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum, £59

Hydration is key to nearly all of your skincare concerns, and this serum has it in spades.

Starring plumping, hydrating hyaluronic acid and healing vitamin B5, the product features a cocktail of refreshing ingredients that flood skin with moisture.

While it’s heavier – and slightly stickier – than other hyaluronic serums I’ve tried, the formula doesn’t leave your complexion feeling heavy or ‘stuck’, and instead instantly alleviates feelings of dryness and tightness.

I prefer the texture of this Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum to the OG Hydr8 B5 serum, which I find a little too sticky, plus, its more potent, fast-acting formula delivers more noticeable results too.

When used in tandem with the Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream you’ll enjoy a refreshed, plumped, and comfortable complexion with an enviable glow.

LOVE Island star Abi Moore’s has dropped a big hint she could be on her way to the All Stars villa.

The blonde beauty shared photos on Instagram today from an airport, writing: “She’s off again.”

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Abi Moores has dropped a hint she could be an All Stars bombshell[/caption]

Rex

In the shots, Abi, 25, could be seen in a crop grey tracksuit, possibly suggesting she’s flying long haul.

Fan seemed to think so, with one suggesting her destination was South Africa, where All Stars is et.

One wrote: “Wow you look absolutely stunning as always Abi. I hope you are ok as always I am really looking forward to seeing you on love Island all stars I hope you have an amazing time in there I hope you find love in there too xx.”

Another said: “Going into the all stars villa?”

A third shared: “Bombshell!!! Love island?”

It’s the latest in a series of ‘clues’ Abi has dropped on social media, though she could just be capitalising on her association with the show to boost engagement with her account.

A few day ago she revealed a slew of bikinis had been dropped off at her door.

Teasing a bombshell stint in the villa, she wrote on Instagram: “Received so many cute bikini sets. Thank you so much.”

She then proceeded to model them for her followers.

It was in 2023 that Abi found a connection with Mitch Taylor on the show, but he later ditched her and recoupled with Ella Barnes.

It was deemed one of the show’s most horrific Love Island triangles, and helped Mitch earn his ‘Messy’ nickname.”

Poor Abi was left brokenhearted and had to watch her man getting cosy with his new girl while they both called her “bitter”.

After a painful few weeks, she ended up leaving the villa with Scott van-der-Sluis, but it was short-lived in the outside world.

Rex

Instagram

She left the show with Scoot van-der-Sluis, but it was a short-lived romance[/caption]