Shaun Murphy Wins 2025 Masters Beating Kyren Wilson in the Final

After seven days of world-class action at Alexandra Palace, the 2025 Masters final came down to a showdown between 2015 champion Shaun Murphy and reigning world champion Kyren Wilson.

Wilson, "The Warrior," entered the final as the heavy favourite, a sentiment echoed by Murphy himself due to Wilson's stellar form and multiple title wins this season. 

However, Murphy, with the experience of lifting the Paul Hunter Trophy already under his belt, wasn’t to be overlooked. His sensational 147 break in the semi-final against Mark Allen is a clear reminder of the kind of form he is capable of producing.

Tale of the Tape

A win for Murphy would make him the 12th multiple Masters champion and earn him a career high payday of £350,000. Meanwhile, Wilson is vying to become the 26th unique Masters champion and the seventh reigning world champion to claim the prestigious title.

Historically, Murphy has held the upper hand in their head-to-head encounters, boasting 10 wins to Wilson’s four. Notably, whenever the two have met in a tournament final, Murphy has always emerged victorious, as seen in the 2023 Tour Championship and the 2020 Welsh Open.

Murphy Dominates the Afternoon 

In the final, Wilson’s gruelling semi-final battle against world number one Judd Trump, which stretched past midnight, seemed to take its toll. Fatigue appeared to play a role in the early exchanges, with Murphy racing to a 3-1 lead by the mid-session interval of the afternoon session. From there, Wilson struggled to find the sharpness that had defined his earlier matches.

Murphy, on the other hand, was at his clinical best, with his trademark long potting and rest play in full flow. He closed out the afternoon session with two stunning century breaks of 134 and 116, securing a commanding 6-2 lead heading into the decisive evening session. 

In a race to 10 frames, Wilson faced a monumental challenge if he is to lift the Paul Hunter Trophy for the first time in his career.

Evening Session Heats Up

After a three-hour break, the evening session resumed, bringing the 2025 Masters final to its thrilling conclusion. Kyren Wilson returned with renewed energy and sharper focus, managing to claim two of the next four frames. 

Although, a third century break of the match, during this run of four frames, allowed the Magician to maintain his grip on the scoreboard, entering the second half of the evening session with an 8-4 lead.

The Comeback Gains Momentum

As the final progressed, Wilson ignited hopes of a sensational turnaround. The reigning world champion found his rhythm, launching a three-frame surge that left Murphy temporarily flustered. 

During this spell, Wilson limited Murphy to just one pot across three frames, crafting breaks of 78 and 65 to close the gap to 8-7. The atmosphere inside Alexandra Palace buzzed with the anticipation of a potential comeback for the ages.

Murphy Seals the Crown

Despite Wilson's valiant fightback, the commanding lead Murphy had established earlier proved decisive. Showing his class and experience, the Magician regrouped and delivered under pressure, taking the next two frames with clinical precision, winning 10-7. 

The victory secured Murphy his second Masters title, a full decade after his first, and he lifted the Paul Hunter Trophy to rapturous applause.

Murphy’s triumph was a fitting reward for a week of outstanding snooker. The 10-year wait for his second Triple Crown title was over, and his stellar performance throughout the tournament confirmed his status as one of the sport's greats. 

With renewed confidence, Murphy will look to carry this momentum into the remainder of the season.