Kyren Wilson Triumphs Over John Higgins To Claim First Masters Title

The 2026 Masters Snooker final at London’s Alexandra Palace delivered a story of redemption, resilience, and raw emotion as Kyren Wilson finally etched his name onto the Paul Hunter Trophy. In front of more than 2,000 passionate fans, Wilson overcame the legendary John Higgins with a 10-6 victory, securing his first Masters crown after two previous heartbreaks in the final. The win capped off a week of high drama, unexpected turns, and a brief but tense interruption that saw the finalists escorted from the arena due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

From the outset, the tournament promised fireworks. The Masters, the second leg of snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown, featured the world’s top 16 players, all vying for a share of the £1,015,000 prize pot. Defending champion Shaun Murphy, who thrilled fans with a maximum break en route to last year’s title, was ousted in the first round by Wu Yize, setting the tone for a week of upsets. Mark Selby, fresh from his UK Championship triumph, also bowed out early, falling to Xiao Guodong. As the dust settled, it was Wilson and Higgins, two seasoned campaigners with contrasting recent fortunes, who emerged from the pack to contest the final.

The final itself was not without its share of drama and adversity. Just as the match was finding its rhythm, with the score delicately poised at 1-1, play was halted due to a medical emergency in the audience. Both players were led off the table as medical staff attended to a female spectator who had become unwell. Broadcaster Hazel Irvine provided reassurance to viewers: "We're hearing that the lady who became unwell in the audience is fine, she's just leaving the auditorium right now. Best wishes to her and her family." The incident, though brief, underscored the intensity and emotional stakes of the occasion, with more than 2,000 spectators sharing in the tension and relief as play resumed.

Once back underway, the match quickly settled into a gripping, if occasionally scrappy, contest. Higgins, the 50-year-old Scottish great, struck first, but Wilson responded with a break of 41 to take the third frame and a nerveless clearance of 58 to snatch the fourth, punishing Higgins for missing a crucial red. By the first mid-session interval, Wilson had established a 3-1 lead, a psychological edge that would shape the course of the match.

Higgins, ever the battler, clawed his way back to 3-3, displaying the grit that has made him a four-time world champion and now the oldest finalist in a Triple Crown event. Yet, Wilson found another gear, closing out the afternoon session with back-to-back centuries to restore a two-frame cushion at 5-3. Those breaks not only showcased Wilson’s technical prowess but also his growing confidence under pressure—a trait that had eluded him in previous Masters finals.

The evening session saw both players struggle to find their very best form, with unforced errors creeping in amid the palpable tension. Wilson, however, held his nerve, extending his lead to 8-5 after piecing together a top break of 49 in the early frames. A decisive run of 78 in the 14th frame put him within touching distance of victory at 9-5. Although Higgins responded with a half-century to delay the inevitable, Wilson finally clinched the title in the 16th frame with a modest break of 21, prompting an outpouring of emotion.

For Wilson, the triumph was as much about personal redemption as it was about silverware. Having lost in the Masters final in both 2018 and 2025, and coming off a difficult mental spell following his UK Championship exit in December, the 34-year-old was visibly moved as he addressed the crowd. "In 2018 I lost in the final and cried and I'm trying not to cry now as it means so much to me," Wilson told BBC Sport. "It was an honour and privilege to share the table with an idol of mine. It was just an absolute dogfight and I tried to be as dogged as John has been over the years, and that is why he has been so successful. I'm glad he's managed to give me one for a change."

He continued, "I never make it easy for myself. I always seem to do it the hard way. I don't know why, it frustrates the life out of me but I will always give it my all. Even if I'm struggling I will fight until the end until I finally get my hands on some silverware." Wilson’s resilience and fighting spirit resonated with fans and pundits alike, many of whom lauded his perseverance through adversity.

Higgins, gracious in defeat, acknowledged both the quality of Wilson’s play and his own struggles on the big stage. "It's disappointing because the last two finals I've played in I've gone out like a light," Higgins told BBC Sport. "Taking no credit away from Kyren, he was by far the better player. He was totally dominant. He's a great champion." The Scottish veteran, who had not lifted the Masters trophy since 2006, nevertheless made history by becoming the oldest finalist in a Triple Crown event, a testament to his enduring class and competitive spirit.

The path to the final had been anything but straightforward for either player. Higgins battled past world champion Zhao Xintong and world number one Judd Trump in a pair of nail-biting encounters, including a dramatic 6-5 win over Trump in the semi-finals. Reflecting on his journey, Higgins remarked, "Even at 5-3 down I didn't give up. It was the same against Zhao Xintong. Who knows, maybe my name is on the trophy? You just don't know." Wilson, for his part, survived a scare against Wu Yize in the semi-final, admitting, "Wu Yize is going to be around for many years to come. I wasn't at the races at all. I don't know where I found those final two frames. It looked like it was going to be all over and I would be out but sometimes the snooker gods are on your side and you have to make the most of it."

With the victory, Wilson not only claims the £350,000 winner’s share but also cements his status as one of the sport’s elite, joining the pantheon of Masters champions. The 2026 edition of the tournament will be remembered for its dramatic twists, its moments of vulnerability and courage, and above all, for a new champion who refused to be denied.

As the lights dimmed on Alexandra Palace, the snooker world was left to reflect on a final that, while not always a display of perfection, delivered a compelling narrative of persistence, sportsmanship, and triumph against the odds. For Kyren Wilson, the long wait is finally over—he is the Masters champion at last.