Kyren Wilson makes no secret of the fact that his family is very important to him, and that was clear again after his post-match interviews following victory at the 2026 Masters.
The Kettering cueist saw off the challenge of John Higgins in a bruising final at the Alexandra Palace with a 10-6 scoreline to claim the Paul Hunter Trophy for the first time on Sunday.
Match report: Kyren Wilson captures maiden Masters title
Wilson was quick to pay homage to his wife inside the arena, who had health concerns last year amid a difficult time for the former world champion both on and off the table.
On it, the 34 year-old had mostly struggled since landing silverware at the Shanghai Masters in August, culminating in a lowly defeat to Elliot Slessor in the first round of the UK Championship in York.
At the very next Triple Crown event, however, Wilson has dug deep to rediscover his form and pick up a second title from the prestigious series.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Kyren Wilson, who pocketed the lucrative £350,000 top prize, told Rob Walker backstage for the World Snooker Tour.
“This tournament has got so much history and so much nostalgia, and what an incredible place to come and play snooker.”
“So to go away as the champion, especially after recent events, I’m just so pleased.
“I think it’s fair to say it was nervy. For both of us, it was very important. I think John would have become the oldest-ever winner.
“That would have been an incredible feat, but taking nothing away from John losing. He’s an incredible champion.
“He’s an absolute role model and idol of mine, so for me to play him in a major final like this – and come out the winner – is something I’ll be proud about for the rest of my life.”
After Wilson lost the opening frame, he managed to take advantage of some missed opportunities from his opponent in the second to quickly restore parity.
Indeed, much of the match transpired in that way with Wilson picking up the pieces that Higgins was regularly leaving behind, and once he went 2-1 up he was never behind again in the contest.
Success adds to his previous Triple Crown glory at the Crucible a couple of years ago, and although it doesn’t quite measure up to that achievement, it certainly represents an important milestone in Wilson’s career.
“You always want to be remembered as a world champion, I think that’s first and foremost. But this is a very close second.”
“Ever since I was a young boy, my mum and my dad have given everything for all of my career.
“I promised my mum that I was going to win this for her someday, so this is going to sit proudly on her dining room table.
“Any win is major for the confidence, but to win one of the toughest tournaments there is with the best 16 players in the world is massive for the confidence.
“I’m back to winning ways. That’s my second title of the season and I feel like I’m not having a very good season, so with that in mind I’m very proud.”
Next up for Wilson will be the upcoming German Masters, the calendar year’s opening ranking tournament which he’ll enter as the defending champion.
Featured photo credit: WST
The closeness of the Wilson family makes these triumphs feel emotionally powerful for viewers back home. I really like how his sons are keen to shake hands with the loser.
Wilson becomes the 26th player to win the Masters. His eight centuries in the tournament are bettered only by Ali Carter’s nine in the 2024 edition.
Wilson joins Mark Selby as the only players to win multiple titles this season.
Wu Yize took home the high break prize for a contribution of 137.
There were no 6-1, 6-3 or 6-4 scorelines this year.
Kyren Wilson joins Stuart Bingham, Matthew Stevens, Mark Allen, Zhao Xintong and Jimmy White as the active players who are one leg away from a career Triple Crown.