Kyren Wilson edged past Barry Hawkins 10-9 to clinch the German Masters snooker title, rounding off what has been a stunning few months for the world champion. The dramatic final took place at the Tempodrom, Berlin, on February 2, 2025, drawing crowds well beyond midnight.
This latest victory adds to Wilson's impressive run this season, which already includes triumphs at the Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open. With this win, Wilson now boasts nine ranking titles overall, affirming his status among snooker's elite.
The final against Hawkins was nothing short of thrilling, filled with remarkable breaks and tense exchanges. Wilson started strong, taking the first two frames with impressive breaks of 67 and 62 to lead 2-0. Hawkins, though, wasn’t going to go down easily. The Hawk fought back, claiming four out of the next five frames, before Wilson launched back with the first century of the match.
Wilson's 128 took the score to 4-4 by the end of the afternoon session, but Hawkins managed to edge the match on top, winning the final frame of the session with his own century—102. When the evening session resumed, it was Wilson who came out firing, winning three of the first four frames, including breaks of 93 and 125, as he surged to 7-5.
Despite Wilson's resurgence, Hawkins remained resolute, leveling the match at 9-9 and forcing the decider. Tension filled the air as both players battled for the win. After being held to a tie, Wilson seized his opportunity by making 59 before narrowly missing his chance to close it out.
Drama soon unfolded when Hawkins attempted to capitalize on Wilson’s miss but inadvertently potted the cue ball. This opened the door for Wilson, who made no mistake on his next chance, securing the frame and the title decisively.
After the final, Wilson expressed his appreciation for the lively crowd, stating, "Thank you so much to everyone, you made it such an amazing atmosphere to play in." Hawkins reflected on his performance, admitting, "I felt like I was just holding onto Kyren all day, he was playing mejor than me, he was the stronger player. It’s been a great week, great crowd, great support but it’s a shame I didn’t get the win; Kyren deserved it."
This victory is particularly poignant for Wilson as it also commemorates his late manager, Brandon Parker, after whom the trophy is named. Wilson said, "I won this event in 2019 and, sadly, Brandon passed away soon after. Holding the trophy named after him means so much to me. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have this tournament. I’m so pleased I managed to win it today."
With this third title of the season, Wilson is riding high, stating, "If you can’t use being World champion as confidence, then what’s the point? I feel like I’m riding the crest of a wave. Hopefully, there are more tournaments to come, and more silverware awaits."
Overall, the contest was lauded as one of the most thrilling matches seen so far this year, with both players showcasing outstanding skill. With Wilson now established as one of the leading figures on the snooker circuit, the future looks bright for the reigning champion.