Maximum man Murphy to face Wilson in Masters showpiece

Shaun Murphy will play Kyren Wilson in the 2025 Masters final after hitting a magical maximum break during his victory over Mark Allen.

The Magician raised the roof at Alexandra Palace on Saturday when he hit the ninth career 147 in frame six of his 6-3 win.

Murphy had gone agonisingly close to achieving perfection during his quarter-final victory over Neil Robertson on Thursday, seeing the opportunity go begging after snookering himself on the yellow.

However, he made no mistake two days later with his first maximum at a major event – and the sixth in the Masters’ 50-year history – to put him on track for the top prize of £15,000.

“I can’t believe it. It was just an incredible moment, one of the best moments of my snooker career,” Murphy told BBC Sport

“I have wanted to make a 147 in one of the BBC events since I was a child. I had a great opportunity the other day and totally messed it up. I had great support from the crowd, who were absolutely amazing.

“The one at the Shoot Out [last season] was special for obvious reasons, but that has to be top. When I came to the table, I thought to myself: ‘If I get this cannon right, this is a great chance’.

“I’m absolutely delighted to win. It’s been so long since I’ve been in this position. I was getting a bit nervy towards the end because getting to the final of these events doesn’t happy every day for someone like me.”

The 2015 champion had made a slow start in his bid to reach a first Masters final since lifting the trophy 10 years ago, falling 2-0 behind as Allen controlled the opening two frames.

However, runs of 83 and 54 helped him turned the contest around, before delivering the 210th 147 in competitive play in frame six.

The Pistol stopped the rot with 54, but a break of 72 put Murphy 5-3 up and on the brink of victory, which he sealed on the black in the next frame with a calm 25 clearance from the yellow.

Wilson awaits him in Sunday’s final, after the Warrior recovered from 3-2 down to beat Judd Trump by the same scoreline.

The reigning World champion progressed to his second Masters showpiece, while ending the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and UK Championship winner’s hopes of completing a seasonal major slam.

This was already the fourth meeting between the world’s top two players this season, and their eighth at the Masters.

Wilson, who had won just two of the previous seven, opened with 61 then, after Trump broke down on 37 in frame two, punished with an 89 clearance as he made a purposeful start to the contest.

After Trump replied with 85 and 52 to level at the interval, the Warrior had the opportunity to regain the lead in frame five with a run of 60 from 37-0 down, only to miss the yellow with the rest.

He then conceded 43 penalty points as the Ace won the tactical battle, before sinking a long blue to lead for the first time at 3-2.

However, the world number one scored just 15 points thereon. Wilson, who overcame Trump in the final to win both his titles this season at the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open, levelled with 76, before further contributions of 88, 85 and 106 saw him through.

“I’m delighted to make my second Masters final,” he said. “I really had to dig in today. [Judd’s] been so successful over the past couple of years, and he’s so, so hard to beat.

“I’ve had an amazing season. I’m not happy to just leave it there, I want to add more to it. I’ve obviously given myself a good chance of that.”

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Masters Snooker 2025 | Semi-Final Results

Saturday January 18

Semi-Finals

Mark Allen 3-6 Shaun Murphy
Judd Trump 3-6 Kyren Wilson