By Mike Burnett BBC Sport

The Masters is one of the most established events in the snooker calendar.

WINNERS 1975-1984 1975 J Spencer 9-8 R Reardon 1976 R Reardon 7-3 G Miles 1977 D M'tjoy 7-6 R Reardon 1978 A Higgins7-5 C Thorburn 1979 P Mans 8-4 A Higgins 1980 T Griffiths 9-5 A Higgins 1981 A Higgins 9-6 T Griffiths 1982 S Davis 9-5 T Griffiths 1983 C T'burn 9-7 R Reardon 1984 J White 9-5 T Griffiths

In its first year, the Masters was held at the West Centre Hotel in London's Earls Court as England's John Spencer overcame Welsh wizard Ray Reardon in a tense 9-8 final.

The match had to be decided on a re-spotted black in the final frame for Spencer to claim his £2,000 first prize.

While other events have often struggled to gain recognition in the early days, the London spectacle has never suffered from that problem.

The following year, the event moved to New London Theatre in Drury Lane, before finally settling in its present location at Wembley Conference Centre in 1979.

Such a big tournament requires an appropriate venue, so where better than Wembley with its 2,700 seating capacity.

WINNERS 1985-1994 1985 C Thorburn 9-6 D M'tjoy 1986 C Thorburn 9-5 J White 1987 D Taylor 9-8 A Higgins 1988 S Davis 9-0 M Hallett 1989 S Hendry 9-6 J Parrott 1990 S Hendry 9-4 J Parrott 1991 S Hendry 9-8 M Hallett 1992 S Hendry 9-4 J Parrott 1993 S Hendry 9-5 J Wattana 1994 A McManus 9-8 S Hendry

Not surprisingly, the tournament has provided more than its fair share of thrills over the years from the sport's top craftsmen.

Between the end of the 1970s and early 80s, a new batch of talent was to emerge in the Masters.

Within the space of four years, Alex "Hurricane" Higgins ended up twice winner and twice runner-up.

One-time champion Terry Griffiths seemed to be a permanent fixture in the final in the early 80s, achieving the highest break of the tournament an unprecedented three times.

Canadian Cliff Thorburn clocked up three titles between 1983 and 1986, but this was soon to be dwarfed by a young Scot called Stephen Hendry.

Making his debut in the tournament in 1989, he had the gall to go and win the trophy then go on to take the title on the next four consecutive seasons.

WINNERS 1995-2005 1995 R O'Sullivan 9-3 J Higgins 1996 S Hendry 10-5 R O'S'livan 1997 S Davis 10-8 R O'Sullivan 1998 M Williams 10-9 S Hendry 1999 J Higgins 10-8 K Doherty 2000 M Stevens 10-8 K Doh'ty 2001 P Hunter 10-9 F O'Brien 2002 P Hunter 10-9 M Williams 2003 M Williams 10-4 S Hendry 2004 P Hunter 10-9 R O'S'livan 2005 R O'S'livan 10-3 J Higgins

The sponsors eventually handed him the trophy to keep.

The following year's winner, Alan McManus, was presented with a new trophy, which has been used ever since.

Ronnie O'Sullivan first played in the event in 1994 after qualifying as a wild card by winning the 1993 Benson and Hedges Snooker Championship.

He lost 5-1 to Dennis Taylor in the first round, but won the tournament the following year and in 2005, and made it to the finals in 1996, 1997 and 2004.

In recent years, Paul Hunter, has dominated the event having won three of the last four.

The trio of finals have been won by the same 10-9 scoreline and on each occasion Hunter has called upon his saucy "Plan B" to get him out of trouble.