Shaun Murphy has claimed his second Masters title with a 10-7 victory over world champion Kyren Wilson at Alexandra Palace, securing a record-breaking prize of £350,000.
The 42-year-old ‘Magician’ held his nerve in a tense evening session to end a decade-long wait for a Triple Crown tournament victory.
Murphy, who led 6-2 after the first session, withstood a spirited comeback from Wilson to clinch the Paul Hunter Trophy in front of a packed crowd in London.
The victory marks a historic moment in the tournament’s 50-year history, with Murphy taking home the largest first prize ever offered at the Masters, following a £100,000 increase from last year’s reward.
Shaun Murphy scooped a record-breaking amount in Masters history with his victory over Kyren Wilson
BBC
Murphy dominated the early exchanges, crafting breaks of 134 and 125 on Sunday night after opening with a 94 break to establish control.
The Harlow-born player built a commanding 4-1 lead before extending it to 6-2 by the end of the first session.
Wilson, the current world champion, showed resilience by taking the first frame of the evening session to reduce the gap to three frames.
Murphy responded twice to establish an 8-4 advantage at the mid-session interval.
The momentum shifted dramatically as Wilson won three consecutive frames for the first time in the match, bringing the score to 8-7.
But Murphy regained his composure to take a crucial ninth frame, moving to 9-7, before sealing victory despite a re-rack in the final frame.
Murphy’s path to the final included a remarkable achievement, as he crafted a stunning 147 maximum break during his semi-final victory over Mark Allen.
The perfect break was the sixth maximum in Masters tournament history and earned Murphy an additional £15,000 prize for the highest break of the tournament.
This victory marks Murphy’s second Masters triumph in his third career final appearance.
His previous Masters success came in 2015, when he became only the 10th player to complete the Triple Crown of snooker’s major titles.
Shaun Murphy was elated to win the Masters – the second of his career
BBC
The world number seven had previously faced Neil Robertson in two Masters finals, suffering defeat in 2012 before claiming victory three years later.
The increased prize fund at this year’s Masters saw significant boosts across all rounds of the tournament.
Runner-up Wilson takes home £140,000, a substantial increase from the £40,000 awarded last year.
The total prize pot for the prestigious invitational event reached £1,015,000, with semi-finalists earning £75,000.
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Quarter-finalists received £40,000, while players eliminated in the last 16 were awarded £25,000.
The tournament’s conclusion coincided with a major broadcasting announcement, as the BBC confirmed a deal with World Snooker Tour to extend their coverage until 2032.
The agreement ensures the Triple Crown events – the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters – will remain on free-to-air television for another seven years beyond their current contract.
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