1998 Masters (snooker)

The 1998 Benson & Hedges Masters was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place between 1 and 8 February 1998 at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, England.

The final frame of final between Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry turned into a re-spotted black for the first time since Ray Reardon and John Spencer in the first final in 1975. Hendry had led 9–6, before Williams tied it to 9–9. Williams was then trailing 56–34 in the final frame, when he potted the brown and the remaining colours to tie the scores in the match, after Hendry missed the brown. They then played seven shots on the black in a match similar to the 1985 World Championship final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis. Hendry then missed an easy black in the middle pocket before Williams potted it on the top left pocket in to claim his first Masters title.

After winning the £145,000 prize money, it was sent to another player named Mark Williams by mistake before it came to the champion. This led to him officially becoming known as Mark J. Williams. The highest break of the tournament was 142 made by Andy Hicks.