Wild card assures Davis of €18,000 bonus

Steve Davis has collected a £12,000 (€18,000) Christmas bonus after being handed a wild card for next year’s Benson and Hedges Masters.

That is the minimum amount Davis is guaranteed for completing an 18-man line-up for the last staging of the event.

The 45-year-old will play Irishman Joe Swail at Wembley Conference Centre next February.

Davis, who completed his B&H hat-trick in 1997 with a memorable 10-8 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan after being 8-4 down, will be appearing in his 22nd Masters.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to Wembley,” he said. “The crowd is amazing and always give me great support.

“The tournament is superb and the venue is excellent and its a shame this is going to be the last Benson and Hedges Masters.”