Kyren Wilson
Finals, Ranking, Snooker Headlines

Kyren Wilson lifts European Masters trophy

Kyren Wilson won a drab European Masters final with a 9-3 triumph over Barry Hawkins in Germany on Sunday.

The Englishman recorded a high break of just 56 in a low-scoring affair in which neither player was able to establish much momentum.

Several frames throughout the day became scrappy, with Wilson taking advantage to land a fifth career ranking success.

Ahead of the final, Wilson had been the marginal bookies favourite as the higher ranked player, but it was Hawkins who had been producing the stronger standard of play during the tournament overall.

The Hawk’s eight tons in reaching the final where the most of anybody in the event, but the 43 year-old couldn’t match that standard in the title decider.

It represents a familiar story for Hawkins this year, who also reached the finals of both the Masters and the Players Championship in 2022 only to fail to deliver when it mattered the most.

Like Hawkins, Wilson has suffered from a losing record in ranking event finals, and it was perhaps this pressure that prevented him from producing his best.

However, after taking the opening three frames, the 30 year-old was able to safely maintain his buffer.

Hawkins briefly rallied to reduce his arrears to one frame either side of the first mid-session interval.

But when Wilson pulled clear again to lead 6-2 heading into the evening session, the writing was on the wall.

A break of 64 in the ninth frame briefly appeared to give Hawkins renewed hope, but Wilson fought back to pinch it on the black and extend his cushion.

Soon after, the Kettering cueist won the two further frames he required for glory and the £80,000 top prize.

Having lifted the European Masters trophy, Wilson rises back to number six in the official world rankings list.

Featured photo credit: WST

One Comment

  1. Jay Brannon

    Four of his five ranking titles have been won abroad including three in Germany.

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