Matthew Stevens cannot wait for The Masters to begin after a five-year absence from snooker’s showpiece invitation event (The Masters outright – Matthew Stevens 25/1).

Stevens landed the title in 2000 with a 10-8 victory over Ken Doherty but the Welshman dropped out of the top 16 in 2007 and has missed out on the tournament ever since.

However, the 34-year-old has now forced his way back into the top 16 and Stevens admits he can’t wait for his Masters return.

He told thisissouthwales.co.uk: “It’s one of the tournaments all the top players want to be in. I’ve not been involved in it for a few years so it’s great to be back. The event gets such a massive audience on TV and in the arena so it just feels really special.”

He added: “Being back in the top 16 has made a massive difference for me. With all the new tournaments the calendar is very busy, so if I had to go to the qualifiers as well it would be a lot tougher.

“I’m winning matches that I was losing before, just the odd 5-4 here and there, but when you add those up it makes a big difference.”

Stevens will take on reigning world champion and current world number three John Higgins in the first-round on January 17 (The Masters matches – John Higgins 2/5, Matthew Stevens 7/4).