History-making Higgins sets up Masters final clash with Wilson

John Higgins will play Kyren Wilson in this year’s Masters final, following a dramatic 6-5 victory over Judd Trump on Saturday.

The Wizard became the oldest Triple Crown finalist in snooker history, after producing another inspired fightback from 5-3 down to deny the world number one in a deciding frame.

Higgins had lost 14 of his last 15 meetings with Trump, who quickly took control of this contest with his opponent failing to pot a ball in the opening two frames.

The Scotsman recovered from needing a snooker in the third, but found himself in one on the yellow via a slice of good fortune for the Ace, who subsequently stretched his lead to 3-0.

Higgins, though, managed to stop the rot on the colours in frame four, before a break of 104 after the mid-session interval reduced his deficit to 3-2.

The Wizard was on 44 in frame six but, after missing a red to the left centre, Trump cleared with 70 to restore his buffer.

Higgins turned the tables with a 57 clearance having trailed 54-0 in the seventh frame, only for the Ace to produce one of his own from 62-2 behind in the next to lead 5-3.

The world number one appeared set to clinch his place in a third Masters final, but missed the brown and let his opponent off the hook.

Higgins, who also trailed 5-3 during his quarter-final victory over World champion Zhao Xintong, took advantage with 70 in the 10th frame, which he eventually secured by doubling the final red after Trump got the three snookers he required.

The Ace then squandered the first chance of the decider when missing a right-handed red to the left corner. Higgins stepped in with 57 and, though he missed a routine pink to the same pocket, the 50-year-old eventually got over the line and into his sixth Masters final.

“It was amazing, I can’t believe I am through,” he said. “Judd was in total control of the game at 3-0, I was all at sea and I was devastated because nothing was happening for me.

“In recent times, I have lost a lot of matches like that, which has been really tough to take. I just didn’t give up today, even though I lost two bad frames to go 4-2 and 5-3 down. But I was lucky that Judd missed the brown at 5-3, it looked all over.

“It has to go down as one of my biggest ever wins because Judd is such a great champion and he had won so many matches against me in the last few years. He probably felt the match was easy. At 3-0, perhaps he took his foot off the pedal, and this game never forgives you. I will enjoy tonight and tomorrow just go out and give it my all.”

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡 💪 #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/s6fCcz044j

— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) January 17, 2026

Standing in the way of Higgins completing a hat-trick of Masters titles is two-time runner-up Wilson, who is looking to make it third time lucky after edging out Wu Yize in another decider.

After the first four frames were shared, the Warrior imposed himself on the contest with breaks of 76 and 74 to lead 4-2.

However, the world number two missed a straightforward red at 32-1 up in frame seven, and it changed the complexion of the contest.

Indeed, Masters debutant Wu stepped in with contributions of 74, 87 and 58 to move to the brink of victory at 5-4 up.

Yet, the Chinese saw a glorious opportunity to clinch frame and match go begging in frame 10, as he missed a routine red at 44-11 up, with Wilson subsequently producing a nerveless 46 clearance to stop the rot and force a decider.

The Warrior had recovered from 5-4 down to edge out Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals on Friday, and he followed suit 24 hours later, pouncing on a loose safety from his opponent with a magnificent break of 116 to seal another dramatic victory.

“I’m not sure how many more deciders I can take!” he said. “At 5-4, it looked as if I was going home, but the snooker Gods shone on me.

“When Wu missed I saw a red to the middle, which would give me a chance, that ignited something in me. I made a really good clearance there, and then the century in the decider.

“I just wasn’t at the races at all today. I don’t know where I found those last two frames. The red I dropped in to clear up and go 5-5, that spurred me on and I thought: ‘Right, come on then, you’re not useless!’ Wu let me off the hook a little bit.

“I’m annoyed because of how I played, but I’m proud of how I handled it. I never dropped my head. I was missing all sorts. Perhaps, there was a little bit of fatigue from last night.

“It’s an awesome achievement in itself making back-to-back finals, but that’s not what I’m in the game for. I don’t want to leave it there.”

📆 Friday: Beats Neil Robertson 6-5 from 5-4 down

📆 Saturday: Beats Wu Yize 6-5 from 5-4 down

😮‍💨 #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/rXxcgMSfRy

— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) January 17, 2026

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Masters Snooker 2026 Results

Saturday January 17

Semi-Finals

Judd Trump 5-6 John Higgins
Kyren Wilson 6-5 Wu Yize