In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Kyren Wilson has taken a significant step towards clinching his inaugural Masters title, currently holding a 5-3 advantage over John Higgins after the first session of their highly anticipated final at Alexandra Palace.
At 50 years old, Higgins stands as the oldest competitor in this prestigious Triple Crown event, aiming to secure victory in this invitational tournament for the first time since 2006. He kicked off the match with confidence, winning the opening frame with a solid break of over fifty points, displaying his experience and composure.
However, as the match progressed, Higgins faced a series of unforced errors that proved costly. This allowed Wilson, ranked second in the world, to seize the second frame, establishing himself more firmly in the contest.
The trend continued as Wilson dominated the next two frames, heading into the interval with a commanding 3-1 lead. Despite this, Higgins demonstrated his legendary matchplay skills by claiming the fifth frame in a somewhat chaotic manner, bringing the score back to 3-3 and showcasing his ability to fight back under pressure.
Yet, Wilson was determined not to lose his edge as the afternoon session came to a close. He regained his momentum with an impressive 103 break, followed by a spectacular 111 break, marking his eighth century of the tournament, which capped off a strong showing before the evening session.
The last two frames of the afternoon clearly illustrated Wilson's intent to succeed. Having previously experienced heartbreak in the finals against Mark Allen in 2018 and Shaun Murphy in 2025, losing both matches 10-7, he is now eager to change his fortunes. Notably, although Wilson has only triumphed in three out of eleven past encounters with Higgins, one of those victories came during his journey to winning the World Championship in 2024, likely boosting his confidence.
This best-of-19 showdown will reach its conclusion on Sunday at 19:00 GMT, with the winner set to take home an impressive prize of £350,000. Will Wilson maintain his lead and achieve his dream, or can Higgins mount a comeback? The excitement continues!
