Kyren Wilson Claims Masters Glory, Then Shocks Snooker World by Pulling Out of Championship League Just Hours Later
Kyren Wilson’s emotional victory at the Masters marked a major turning point in his career, but shortly after banking £350,000 for the win, he made a surprising decision to pull out of the upcoming Championship League. Just hours after lifting his first-ever Masters title, Wilson opted out of the event in Leicester, where he was replaced by Oliver Lines. Despite the glory of his achievement, Wilson made it clear that he wasn’t ready to dive straight back into competitive action.
The victory was a sweet redemption for Wilson, who had come so close a year earlier, losing in the final to Shaun Murphy. His emotional journey was also shaped by a tough period earlier in the season, where an early exit from the UK Championship nearly pushed him to the brink of a mental breakdown. But at the Alexandra Palace, Wilson’s resilience shone through as he battled through a “dogfight” against snooker legend John Higgins to claim the title.
In a post-match interview, Wilson fought back tears, reflecting on the significance of his win. “In 2018 I lost in the final and cried, and now it means so much to me to finally get this,” he said. “It was an honor to share the table with an idol of mine, and I fought like John Higgins would—he’s always made it look easy, but I’ll always make it hard for myself.”
Higgins, for his part, was gracious in defeat but admitted his performance was far from his best. “Kyren was by far the better player,” he said, acknowledging Wilson’s dominance in the match that ended 10-6. With his Masters victory now behind him, Wilson’s decision to take a break was a clear sign of his need to recharge after a hard-fought triumph.
