Kyren Wilson finally claimed the one title that had eluded him, defeating John Higgins 10–6 to win the 2026 Masters at Alexandra Palace. It was third time lucky for Wilson at the prestigious invitational, having lost finals in 2018 and 2025, and his second Triple Crown title following the 2024 World Championship. An emotional Wilson collected the Paul Hunter Trophy and the £350,000 first prize.
Wilson was the more composed player throughout, producing centuries of 103 and 111 to build a 5–3 lead after the afternoon session. Although Higgins briefly closed to 5–4, Wilson pulled away emphatically, winning five of the last seven frames to seal a deserved victory. For Higgins, at 50 years and 245 days, it was a record-breaking appearance as the oldest Triple Crown finalist in history—a testament to his enduring brilliance even in defeat.
The 2026 Masters will be remembered for an extraordinary statistical anomaly: all eight first-round matches ended 6–2, odds estimated at a remarkable 220,000 to 1. The tournament also featured a record five Chinese players, with Wu Yize making an impressive debut by defeating defending champion Shaun Murphy 6–2. Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew for the second consecutive year on medical grounds, replaced by Chris Wakelin.
The event drew 50.4 million domestic viewer hours across BBC and TNT Sports, underlining the Masters’ enduring appeal as one of snooker’s crown jewels. Wilson’s triumph cements his status as one of the sport’s dominant forces heading into the business end of the season.
Key facts:
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London
Dates: 11–18 January 2026
Final score: Kyren Wilson 10–6 John Higgins
Winner’s prize: £350,000 (Triple Crown invitational)
