What prep work for tiling kitchen floor?

I am ripping out an old 60/70s (swollen) chipboard kitchen with dark brown wood imitation doors, replacing it with modern stuff. The floor is covered with vinyl tiles that I will rip out. I still don't know what is underneath except that the bottom layer is hoop pine floorboards. I will get it tiled by a professional but plan to do most of the preparations myself. I know I need to get rid of all the glue from the old tiles and to be careful not to break them in case they contain asbestos. I expect there will be a layer of masonite or similar under the vinyl tiles.
1. Should I leave this in place or rip it out as well?
2. What would be the preferred "starting point" for whoever does the tiling?
3. Is there anything else I could/should do to prepare the surface?

Shiver me timbers...


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