Kyren Wilson stood at the table in Alexandra Palace fighting back tears as the final black disappeared into the pocket. After eight years of chasing a Masters crown, he defeated John Higgins 10–6 to secure his first title at snooker’s most prestigious invitational event, completing one of the most emotional moments of his career.
For Wilson, this was not merely another trophy. It was vindication after weeks of self-doubt, disrupted form and a campaign that had nearly unravelled earlier this winter, following problems with his cue before the UK Championship. Six weeks earlier, on 2 December, he had spoken openly about being “very close to a mental breakdown” after a shock early exit. Now, under the lights at Ally Pally, he stood as champion, £350,000 richer and finally the owner of a Masters title that had twice slipped through his fingers.
Across the table stood John Higgins, a player Wilson has long described as both a legend and an idol. At 50, the Scot was bidding to become the oldest winner of a Triple Crown event, having already produced dramatic victories over Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump earlier in the week. Yet despite his pedigree, Higgins struggled to find his best rhythm in the final, with both players guilty of uncharacteristic errors in a tense and often scrappy contest.
The afternoon session set the tone. Higgins struck first with a break of 58 but let a commanding second-frame lead slip away, allowing Wilson to clear and draw level. The Englishman edged ahead at 3–1 before Higgins briefly rediscovered his touch to level at 3–3. What followed proved decisive: back-to-back centuries of 103 and 111 from Wilson gave him a 5–3 lead heading into the evening.
Earlier in the day, play had been briefly suspended after a medical emergency in the crowd, with a woman taken unwell and the players escorted from the arena. The interruption added to the stop-start rhythm of a final that never fully settled into flow.
The second session never reached classic heights, but it became a test of nerve and resilience. Higgins closed the gap to 5–4 with a 71, yet failed to capitalise on further chances, including a risky double that restored Wilson’s two-frame advantage.
The emotional pivot of the evening came in the dramatic 11th frame, which lasted 38 minutes and descended into a prolonged tactical battle. After multiple safety exchanges and missed opportunities at both ends, Higgins finally edged it on the final pink, drawing loud roars from Ally Pally and briefly shifting momentum in his favour.
From there, Wilson’s control proved decisive. A crucial break of 78 moved him 9–5 ahead, leaving him one frame from victory.
Higgins refused to fade quietly, claiming the next frame with a 70 break. But Wilson steadied himself and closed out the match 10–6, dropping his cue in relief as the arena erupted.
“I’m trying not to cry because it means so much,” Wilson said afterwards. “It was an absolute honour and privilege to share the table with not only a legend, but an idol of mine. I’m glad he’s managed to give me one for a change.”
He also revealed a personal promise behind the celebration, saying he had told his mother he would bring the crystal trophy home for her dining table — a pledge he was finally able to keep.
The victory was especially poignant given Wilson’s recent struggles. A damaged cue and shaken confidence had threatened to derail his season in early December, but the Masters became the stage for his revival. Having previously lost finals in 2018 and 2025, he finally added this missing title to his collection.
Higgins was gracious in defeat, calling his own display “useless” while praising Wilson’s composure. Despite the disappointment, his run to the final at 50 years old underlined his enduring competitiveness.
For Wilson, however, the night belonged entirely to him. He celebrated with his family in the stands as he lifted the crystal trophy at Alexandra Palace, completing one of the most meaningful victories of his career.
Sometimes, in snooker, it is not how beautifully you play, but how stubbornly you refuse to give in — and Kyren Wilson’s Masters triumph was built exactly on that.
Kyren Wilson Finally Claims Masters Glory with Gritty Win Over John Higgins
Kyren Wilson stood at the table in Alexandra Palace fighting back tears as the final black disappeared into the pocket. After eight years of chasing a Masters crown, he defeated John Higgins 10–6 to secure his first title at snooker’s most prestigious invitational event, completing one of the most emotional moments of his career.
For Wilson, this was not merely another trophy. It was vindication after weeks of self-doubt, disrupted form and a campaign that had nearly unravelled earlier this winter, following problems with his cue before the UK Championship. Six weeks earlier, on 2 December, he had spoken openly about being “very close to a mental breakdown” after a shock early exit. Now, under the lights at Ally Pally, he stood as champion, £350,000 richer and finally the owner of a Masters title that had twice slipped through his fingers.
Across the table stood John Higgins, a player Wilson has long described as both a legend and an idol. At 50, the Scot was bidding to become the oldest winner of a Triple Crown event, having already produced dramatic victories over Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump earlier in the week. Yet despite his pedigree, Higgins struggled to find his best rhythm in the final, with both players guilty of uncharacteristic errors in a tense and often scrappy contest.
The afternoon session set the tone. Higgins struck first with a break of 58 but let a commanding second-frame lead slip away, allowing Wilson to clear and draw level. The Englishman edged ahead at 3–1 before Higgins briefly rediscovered his touch to level at 3–3. What followed proved decisive: back-to-back centuries of 103 and 111 from Wilson gave him a 5–3 lead heading into the evening.
Earlier in the day, play had been briefly suspended after a medical emergency in the crowd, with a woman taken unwell and the players escorted from the arena. The interruption added to the stop-start rhythm of a final that never fully settled into flow.
The second session never reached classic heights, but it became a test of nerve and resilience. Higgins closed the gap to 5–4 with a 71, yet failed to capitalise on further chances, including a risky double that restored Wilson’s two-frame advantage.
The emotional pivot of the evening came in the dramatic 11th frame, which lasted 38 minutes and descended into a prolonged tactical battle. After multiple safety exchanges and missed opportunities at both ends, Higgins finally edged it on the final pink, drawing loud roars from Ally Pally and briefly shifting momentum in his favour.
From there, Wilson’s control proved decisive. A crucial break of 78 moved him 9–5 ahead, leaving him one frame from victory.
Higgins refused to fade quietly, claiming the next frame with a 70 break. But Wilson steadied himself and closed out the match 10–6, dropping his cue in relief as the arena erupted.
“I’m trying not to cry because it means so much,” Wilson said afterwards. “It was an absolute honour and privilege to share the table with not only a legend, but an idol of mine. I’m glad he’s managed to give me one for a change.”
He also revealed a personal promise behind the celebration, saying he had told his mother he would bring the crystal trophy home for her dining table — a pledge he was finally able to keep.
The victory was especially poignant given Wilson’s recent struggles. A damaged cue and shaken confidence had threatened to derail his season in early December, but the Masters became the stage for his revival. Having previously lost finals in 2018 and 2025, he finally added this missing title to his collection.
Higgins was gracious in defeat, calling his own display “useless” while praising Wilson’s composure. Despite the disappointment, his run to the final at 50 years old underlined his enduring competitiveness.
For Wilson, however, the night belonged entirely to him. He celebrated with his family in the stands as he lifted the crystal trophy at Alexandra Palace, completing one of the most meaningful victories of his career.
Sometimes, in snooker, it is not how beautifully you play, but how stubbornly you refuse to give in — and Kyren Wilson’s Masters triumph was built exactly on that.
