2023 European Masters
The 2023 European Masters (officially the 2023 BetVictor European Masters) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 22 to 27 August 2023 at the Kia Metropol Arena in Nuremberg, Germany, the first time that the main stage of a professional ranking event was held in that city. The 25th edition of the European Masters, it was the second ranking event of the 2023–24 season, following the Championship League and preceding the British Open. It was the second of eight tournaments in the season's European Series. The event featured a prize fund of £427,000, with the winner receiving £80,000.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 22–27 August 2023 |
| Venue | Kia Metropol Arena |
| City | Nuremberg |
| Country | Germany |
| Organisation | World Snooker Tour |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £427,000 |
| Winner's share | £80,000 |
| Highest break | Sean O'Sullivan (ENG) (147) |
| Final | |
| Champion | Barry Hawkins (ENG) |
| Runner-up | Judd Trump (ENG) |
| Score | 9–6 |
Qualifying took place from 25 to 29 July 2023 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, England, although qualifying matches involving the top eight ranked players were held over and played in Nuremberg. The world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew for medical reasons.
Kyren Wilson was the defending champion, having defeated Barry Hawkins 9–3 in the final of the previous season's event, but he lost 3–5 to John Higgins in the quarter-finals. Hawkins reached a second consecutive European Masters final, where he defeated Judd Trump 9–6 to win his fourth ranking title. It was his first ranking title since the 2017 World Grand Prix, following four consecutive defeats in ranking finals. He re-entered the top 16 in the world rankings after the tournament, moving up from 19th to 13th place.
A total of 50 century breaks were made during the main stage, and a further 41 in qualifying. Sean O'Sullivan made the tournament's highest break, a maximum break in his qualifying match against Hawkins.