Masters: Kyren Wilson holds nerve to beat John Higgins and clinch maiden title at Alexandra Palace

Kyren Wilson captured the Masters title for the first time on Sunday, beating John Higgins 10-6 in the final at Alexandra Palace.

At the age of 50, Higgins had hoped to become the oldest-ever winner of a Triple Crown event, but for much of the final he was a shadow of the player who knocked out world champion Zhao Xintong and world No 1 Judd Trump, making numerous unforced errors.

World No 2 Wilson won several crucial frames in the closing stages as he pulled away from 5-4 to win five of the last seven.

Kettering's Wilson had suffered a painful10-7 defeat to Shaun Murphy in the final last year and also lost the 2018 final to Mark Allen by the same scoreline, but at the third time of asking the 34-year- went all the way to snooker's biggest invitation title.

• Masters snooker 2026: Full schedule and results
• O'Sullivan pulls out of Masters on medical grounds
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free on NOW
• Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want

He becomes the 26th winner of a tournament which was first staged in 1975, lifting the Paul Hunter Trophy and banking the top prize of £350,000.

Just seven weeks ago at the UK Championship, Wilson was in despair after losing to Elliot Slessor in the first round. Wife Sophie had suffered health problems, while on the table Wilson had lost both his form and his cue - which was accidentally broken.

With determination and resilience, he has fought his way back from that low point and now he can celebrate one of his best career moments, perhaps second only to his 2024 World Championship triumph.

Higgins, the oldest ever finalist in a Triple Crown event, misses out on a third Masters title having lifted the trophy in 1999 and 2006, and has now lost four of his six finals. The Scot also passed up the opportunity to land a first Triple Crown success since he won his fourth World Championship in 2011; since then he has lost five finals in these three historic events.

Trailing 5-3 after the first session, Higgins made a break of 71 in the opening frame tonight to close the gap. In the next he trailed 36-48 when he went for a risky double on the penultimate red but it hit the far jaw of a centre pocket and Wilson capitalised for 6-4.

Higgins led 61-15 in the 11th when he missed a routine black, and Wilson then got the snooker he needed and had a chance to clear but failed to pot the final pink. A safety tussle ended when Wilson overcut a long pot and went in-off, allowing a relieved Higgins to slot in the pink.

In the 12th, Higgins once again missed the black off its spot on a break of 15, and his opponent's run of 49 left him 7-5 up at the interval.

Frame 13 came down to the colours and Higgins made a safety error on the brown, leaving it over a top corner which allowed Wilson to go three clear for the first time.

A run of 78 extended his lead, and the Englishman had a match-winning chance in the next but with the balls well placed, he missed the black off its spot on 17. Higgins, who came from 9-5 down to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the 2010 UK Championship final, gave himself hope with a run of 70.

And he had an early chance in frame 16 but made just 12, and the decisive moment came when Wilson, leading 44-12, drilled in a mid-range red and added 24 which got him past the winning post.

Wilson: I never make it easy but I fight to the end | Higgins: I was useless in final session

"In 2018 I lost in the final and cried - I'm trying not to cry now as it means so much to me," Wilson told BBC.

"It was just an absolute dogfight and I tried to be as dogged as John has been over the years - I'm glad he's managed to give me one for a change.

"I never make it easy for myself, I always seem to do it the hard way. I don't know why, it frustrates the hell 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."

After defeat, Higgins said: "The crowd were fantastic. The entrance tonight was one of the best experiences I've had as a snooker player. The conditions were absolutely fantastic as well. I was just useless!

"But taking no credit away from Kyren - he was by far the better player. He was totally dominant today at 10-6.

"It's disappointing because the last two finals I've played in I've gone out like a light. It's been a good week and I've enjoyed it. Just disappointed with the way I performed in the final but listen tonight is Kyren's night so congratulations to him. He's a great champion."