Shaun Murphy holds off Kyren Wilson fight back to win first Masters title for a decade
Shaun Murphy, Masters champion in 2015, clinches title in 2025 after holding off fight back of world champion Kyren Wilson at Alexandra Palace on Sunday, winning 10-7; Murphy led 6-2 and 8-4 before Wilson narrowed lead to 8-7; Murphy hit magnificent 147 in semi-final vs Mark Allen
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:15, UK
Shaun Murphy clinched his first Masters title for a decade, holding off a Kyren Wilson fight back to win the final 10-7 at Alexandra Palace.
Murphy had been irresistible all week and produced only the sixth maximum break in the tournament's history in his semi-final win over Mark Allen.
A day later it was followed by four more centuries in a high-quality and tense final, in which Wilson fought back from a four-frame deficit to trail 8-7 before Murphy held his nerve as he deservedly triumphed 10 years after his maiden Masters crown.
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Murphy followed up breaks of 94 and 65 with back-to-back centuries to take control of the best-of-19 frame final ahead of the evening session.
When the players came back out, Wilson fought from 8-4 down back to 8-7 in a stirring fight back, but Murphy was able to take the chances he needed to eventually clinch victory.
The start to the final was disrupted by a wasp inside the north London venue with Murphy again the target like earlier this week.
It failed to put off the 2015 Masters champion as he went ahead after a strong first frame following a break of 94.
The second frame was more cagey, but Murphy moved 2-0 up before Wilson got off the mark with his own half-century break.
Crucially, Murphy edged the next two frames to open up a healthy lead before Wilson reduced the deficit with a 53 break.
The afternoon session belonged to Murphy, though, who produced a superb 134 clearance for the first century of the final.
It was followed up by an excellent break of 116 to leave Murphy in a strong position.
The players shared two frames apiece in the evening session to see things to 8-4, but Wilson then dug in and stepped up to get within a single frame of Murphy.
Murphy, under pressure by this point, took the next chance he was presented for 9-7, rounding out the final with another century to lift the trophy.
