STEPHEN Hendry is likely to miss the Masters for the first time since 1989, and will have to qualify to earn a place in the UK Championship.

The cut-off point for seeding at the events fell on Monday, with the top 16 guaranteed a place at the two prestigious BBC events, along with the German Masters, which was widely regarded as a major success when it debuted in Berlin last January.

Hendry, who dominated the game during the 1990s, winning seven world titles, faces a tough qualification process to earn his place at the Barbican Centre, York for the UK Championship, and a place in the Masters seems very unlikely. The wild cards for the invitational event have been scrapped, and will only be reinstated if a player outside the top 16 wins the UK Championship.

In effect, this means that Hendry has to qualify for and win the UK Championship if he is to guarantee a place in next year’s Masters, which will be staged at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Australian Open champion Stuart Bingham and PTC Grand Finals runner-up Martin Gould enter the top 16 for the first time.The full top 16 is:
1. Mark Selby
2. Mark Williams
3. John Higgins
4. Neil Robertson
5. Ding Junhui
6. Shaun Murphy
7. Ali Carter
8. Judd Trump
9. Stephen Maguire
10. Graeme Dott
11. Stuart Bingham
12. Mark Allen
13. Stephen Lee
14. Ronnie O’Sullivan
15. Matthew Stevens
16. Martin Gould