Kyren Wilson won the International Championship snooker title in China, beating John Higgins 10-8 in a hard-fought final to claim his 12th ranking title.
Wilson, who also won the Northern Ireland Open two weeks ago, becomes the 16th player to win back-to-back ranking events. The 51-year-old Higgins, aiming to become snooker's oldest ranking event winner, took an early 2-1 lead with a 141 break in the third frame. Wilson moved 4-3 ahead with a 94, but Higgins, a four-time world champion, responded with runs of 71 and 75 to lead 5-4 after the afternoon session.
The pair shared the opening four frames of the evening session before Wilson took three in a row with breaks of 80, 52 and 101 to go 9-7 ahead. Higgins, who lost to world champion Wu Yize in last year's final, reduced the deficit to 9-8. Wilson then sealed the match with a 61 in the 18th frame.
"It was about sticking in there and bouncing back if I made mistakes," Wilson said. "[Higgins] has made a career out of unbelievable clearances under pressure and has been an idol of mine since I started watching the game. To play him in a final like this is a dream come true and it is an honour to win."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Wilson's victory marks his 12th ranking title and back-to-back wins, underlining his strong form after the Northern Ireland Open.
- Higgins, at 51, came close to becoming the oldest ranking event winner, showing his enduring competitiveness at the top level.
- The International Championship is a major ranking event, and Wilson's win reinforces his status among snooker's elite.
Background
The International Championship is a ranking tournament on the World Snooker Tour. Kyren Wilson won the World Championship in 2024. John Higgins lost in last year's International Championship final to Wu Yize.
What to Watch
- Wilson's momentum heading into upcoming ranking events and the Triple Crown tournaments.
- Whether Higgins can add to his ranking title tally before the end of the season.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedWilson said: “[Higgins] has made a career out of unbelievable clearances under pressure and has been an idol of mine since I started watching the game. To play him in a final like this is a dream come true and it is an honour to win.”BBC Scotland: “"[Higgins] has made a career out of unbelievable clearances under pressure and has been an idol of mine since I started watching the game. "To play him in a final like this is a dream come true and it is an honour to win."”
- SupportedWilson beat Higgins 10-8 to win the International Championship title in China.BBC Scotland: “Kyren Wilson claimed the 12th ranking title of his career by beating John Higgins 10-8 in a hard-fought International Championship final in China.”
- Partly supportedWilson is a world champion.BBC Scotland: “a 61 from 2024 world champion Wilson in the 18th frame gave him victory.”
- SupportedThe International Championship win was Wilson’s 12th ranking title.BBC Scotland: “Kyren Wilson claimed the 12th ranking title of his career”
- SupportedWilson had won the Northern Ireland Open two weeks earlier.BBC Scotland: “Wilson, coming off winning the Northern Ireland Open two weeks ago, knocked in a 94”
- SupportedWilson became the 16th player to win back-to-back ranking events.BBC Scotland: “said Wilson, who becomes the 16th player to win back-to-back ranking events.”
- SupportedHiggins was 51 and aimed to become snooker’s oldest ranking event winner.BBC Scotland: “The 51-year-old Higgins, who was aiming to become snooker's oldest ranking event winner,”
- SupportedHiggins took a 2-1 lead with a 141 break in the third frame.BBC Scotland: “The 51-year-old Higgins, who was aiming to become snooker's oldest ranking event winner, took a 2-1 lead with a 141 break in the third frame.”
- SupportedWilson moved 4-3 ahead with a 94 break.BBC Scotland: “Wilson, coming off winning the Northern Ireland Open two weeks ago, knocked in a 94 as he moved 4-3 up”
- SupportedHiggins made runs of 71 and 75 to lead 5-4 after the afternoon session.BBC Scotland: “but four-time world champion Higgins made runs of 71 and 75 to lead 5-4 after the afternoon session.”
- SupportedWilson won three frames in a row with breaks of 80, 52 and 101 to lead 9-7.BBC Scotland: “Wilson took three frames in a row with breaks of 80, 52 and 101 to take a 9-7 lead.”
- SupportedAfter Higgins reduced the deficit to 9-8, Wilson won with a 61 in the 18th frame.BBC Scotland: “Higgins, who was beaten by world champion Wu Yize in last year's final, reduced the deficit to 9-8 but a 61 from 2024 world champion Wilson in the 18th frame gave him victory.”