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Wilson goes back-to-back with International Championship triumph

Jonathan Davies in International Championship

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John Higgins v Kyren Wilson live stream | International Championship 2026 Final preview

Wilson made it back-to-back ranking titles in Nanjing (Credit: WST)

Kyren Wilson secured his second successive ranking title, after beating John Higgins 10-8 in a dramatic International Championship final.

The Warrior, who had gone 19 months without lifting ranking silverware, ended his drought at the Northern Ireland Open 13 days ago, and was the last man standing again in Nanjing on Saturday.

Wilson recovered from 7-6 down in an entertaining showpiece, winning four of the last five frames to scoop the top prize of £175,000.

Beating Higgins in a second final this year, having also defeated him at the Masters, the Wizard was denied the opportunity to become the oldest ranking event winner in snooker history.

“It was a really good final,” Wilson told WST. “The way [John] played against Chang Bingyu in the semi-finals [hitting three centuries in a 9-2 rout], I knew I was in for a tough match.

“It was about sticking in there and bouncing back if I made mistakes. He has made a career out of unbelievable clearances under pressure, and has been an idol of mine since I started watching the game. To play him in a final like this is a dream come true, and it is an honour to win.

“When he gets on a roll and is in the groove, he can blow anyone and everyone away. He is pretty much the most complete snooker player of all-time. To beat him in two big finals, at the Masters and here, I’m chuffed.

“Winning back-to-back titles is an incredible feat really. I’m probably boring people by saying how high the standard is, but it is frightening. It is through the roof. When you have all-time legends still around and getting to finals, it makes it even more difficult. I’m delighted I’ve bounced back from Belfast and won again. That is no mean feat.”

Wilson took the opener with a run of 58, but Higgins responded with a superb 141 total clearance to go 2-1 up.

The Warrior hit back with contributions of 69, 94 and 62 as he won three of the next four frames for 4-3, but runs of 71 and 75 gave the four-time World champion a slender 5-4 lead at the end of the first session.

Wilson resumed the final with a break of 70 and looked good to go 6-5 up at 69-0 to the good in frame 11, only for Higgins to pinch it on the black with a trademark 70 counter clearance.

The reigning Masters champion responded in magnificent fashion with 130. However, he saw a 54-1 lead disappear in frame 13, with Higgins clearing with 64 to snatch it on the pink for 7-6.

Back came Wilson with 80 and he was given a reprieve as the Wizard threatened to dish again in frame 15, only to miss a blue to the right centre.

The Warrior breathed a sigh of relief as he cleared up for 8-7, while a 101 gave him his third straight frame and moved him to the brink of victory.

Higgins dug deep to stop the rot and keep his 61st ranking final alive, but a run of 61 in the next frame eventually proved enough to get Wilson over the line.

“Kyren was very strong tonight, and I just got a little bit weaker at the end,” Higgins said.

“I’ve got to be honest, I’m taking the positives this week. I was in very poor form coming into the tournament. It has given me motivation to get back and try to win an event soon.

“I feel like I might be close as I played very well. Kyren was too strong. It is a great achievement for him to win back-to-back events.”