Shaun Murphy holds off resilient Kyren Wilson to clinch second Masters crown in dramatic final at Alexandra Palace

Shaun Murphy had to battle hard to overcome Kyren Wilson in the 2025 Masters final. The Magician led 8-4 midway through the evening session, with Murphy allowing himself some exhibition shots at one stage, but the world champion roared back to within one frame at 8-7. A tense decider was avoided, however, as Murphy's burst towards the line clinched his second title, a decade on from his first.

Shaun Murphy held off a resilient Kyren Wilson to clinch his second Masters title on Sunday.

In completing the 10-7 triumph, he became just the 12th person to win the competition more than once, having first lifted the Paul Hunter Trophy in 2015.

The 42-year-old held a commanding 6-2 lead going into the evening's action and the scoreline read 8-4 by the mid-session evening break.

Shanghai Masters

Trump and Wilson show future can be bright for British snooker despite Hendry prediction

Yesterday at 08:50

But a fiery fightback from the world champion saw his advantage cut to one, before Murphy dug deep and closed out the contest with his fourth century of the day.

It was a scintillating performance and a deserved victory for The Magician, a decade on from his showstopping 10-2 win over Neil Robertson.

Murphy out-scored his opponent to the tune of 1,019 points to 745, with a 79% pot rate and a staggering 134 to boot.

'I thought these days had gone' - Murphy 'in shock' after Masters final triumph

Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy endured a rare moment of adversity before the match had even started, as the infamous Ally Pally wasp made a beeline towards him for the second time in as many days.

That did not seem to disrupt The Magician, who produced a nerve-settling 94 to take the opener.

A patchy second also went the way of the 2015 champion before Wilson responded with a 69 to go within one – the closest he would get to Murphy until the 16th frame.

And how the world champion would love to replay the fourth frame, in which he missed an easy red to let his 61 break slip and allow Murphy a crucial steal via a clutch 65 clearance.

• Shaun Murphy nails 'stunning' sixth maximum 147 break in Masters history against Mark Allen at Ally Pally - watch here
• Mark Allen has 'absolutely no animosity' towards Shaun Murphy after Masters semi-final loss at Ally Pally

Wilson eventually grabbed a frame back with his third half-century of the final, but Alexandra Palace was squarely Murphy's stage as the session drew to a close.

Back-to-back centuries, including a sensational 134, brought the scoreline to 6-2 before the evening's action, and The Magician even had time and space to break open his box of tricks.

The 134 total clearance was capped by a stylish double on the final black, before Murphy committed a deliberate foul to complete a cheeky trick shot as the final act of the afternoon.

'He needs this more than me!' - Wilson pays tribute to 'old man' Murphy on Masters title

Video credit: TNT Sports

While Murphy exited freewheeling, Wilson returned after the extended break to eventually clear the table with steely professionalism.

But one mistake in the following frame was enough to open the door for Murphy to make his third century of the day and go three away from victory. This time, he chose to pot the final black in a far more conventional manner.

Undettered, Wilson recorded his highest break of the match and his 95 would have reached triple figures were it not for slack positional play on the final blue.

Murphy responded with a regulation 66 to make it 2-2 for the mini-session, 8-4 overall, and draw himself ever closer to the finish line.

With scant room for error, Wilson rattled off three frames in succession after the resumption, keeping Murphy more-or-less rooted to his chair.

The 2005 world champion scored just one point as his opponent made breaks of 78 and 65 to go within one frame of a level final.

Wilson's momentum was stalled when an aggressively-struck red did not find its target and the opportunity was pounced on by Murphy, who went one away.

And after a tense re-rack interrupted both players' rhythm, Murphy sealed his latest Triple Crown title with a sublime 100 break.

---

Stream top snooker action, including The Masters, on discovery+

Shanghai Masters

Trump fears 'uphill struggle' to retain world No. 1 spot despite Shanghai win

02/08/2026 at 20:25

Shanghai Masters

'Hard enough playing Judd Trump' - Wilson swats away fly in Shanghai final

02/08/2026 at 14:24