Kyren Wilson has captured his first Masters snooker title, holding off a determined challenge from veteran John Higgins in a tense final at London's Alexandra Palace. The world number two secured a 10-6 victory to lift the coveted Paul Hunter Trophy and claim the £350,000 top prize.
An Emotional Triumph Over an Idol
For Wilson, the win marked a moment of profound personal achievement, avenging his defeat in the 2018 final. "I’m trying not to cry now because it means so much to me," an emotional Wilson told the BBC after the match. He paid tribute to his opponent, calling Higgins not only a "legend" but also an "idol." The 32-year-old described the contest as an "absolute dogfight from frame one," acknowledging he had to match the Scot's famed resilience to finally secure one of snooker's triple crown events.
A Final of Uncharacteristic Errors
The showpiece was a cagey affair, with both players struggling to find their best form amidst the high stakes. Wilson managed to carve out a 5-3 lead after the first session and maintained his composure to close out the match. Higgins, who had been seeking a third Masters title 20 years after his last win, was brutally honest in his assessment. "I was just useless," the 50-year-old admitted. "Take no credit away, Kyren was by far the better player. He was totally dominant – it wasn’t even a 10-6 match." Despite the performance, Higgins had made history by becoming the oldest player ever to reach the final of a triple crown event.
Path to the Final and What It Means
Higgins's route to the final was a testament to his enduring class, featuring dramatic final-frame deciders against reigning world champion Zhao Xintong and world number one Judd Trump. However, he could not reproduce that magic on Sunday. For Kyren Wilson, this victory solidifies his status among the sport's elite and breaks his duck in one of snooker's most prestigious tournaments. The key elements of his success included:
- Mental fortitude to recover from a previous final defeat.
- Tactical discipline in a scrappy, error-strewn match.
- Overcoming a legendary opponent he openly admires.
The triumph at a packed Ally Pally signals a major career milestone for Wilson, who now joins the exclusive list of Masters champions, a moment he will undoubtedly cherish after years of pursuit.
