On January 20, 2025, the Snooker Masters concluded with Shaun Murphy defeating Kyren Wilson 10-7. This victory marked Murphy's second Masters title and his fourth major championship win, making it the first championship of the year in snooker. Including the prize for the highest single shot, Murphy took home a total of £365,000.
Shaun Murphy was born in 1982 and currently ranks 7th in the world. He has won 12 ranking tournaments and each of the three major events once. As one of the few Grand Slam players in snooker, Murphy is known as one of the "Big Five of the 80s," alongside Trump, Selby, Robertson, and Ding Junhui. Despite having the fewest number of championships, he holds a world championship title. Prior to his match against Mark Allen, Murphy achieved his career's ninth maximum break of 147 points.
Kyren Wilson, born in 1991 and ranked 2nd in the world, is considered the top player among those born in the 90s. He has won eight ranking tournaments, significantly more than his peers. As the reigning World Championship winner from last year, Wilson is at the peak of his career, with an undeniable competitive level. He has repeatedly defeated the world number one to claim titles, leaving a deep impression on fans after previously defeating Trump.
The match began with Murphy taking the lead by scoring a single shot of 94 points in the first round. In the second round, Murphy made several attempts and completed a super score of 78-4. In the third round, Wilson responded with a single shot of 69 points. In the fourth round, Wilson's single shot of 61 points was interrupted, followed by Murphy clearing the table with a single shot of 65 points to reverse the situation with a score of 66-61. Wilson's state was not as good as when he played against Trump, while Murphy's on-site performance remained stable.
After the intermission, Murphy won the fifth round with a score of 72-21 in a tough battle. In the sixth round, Wilson took the initiative and scored a single shot of 53 points, winning the round with a score of 77-30. Murphy then consecutively scored single shots of 143 and 116 points. In the ninth round, Wilson led with a score of 55-0 but had to switch to defense due to poor positioning. He eventually won the round with a score of 99-5. In the tenth round, Murphy cleared the table with a single shot of 125 points, which was his third century break in the final, demonstrating his fiery form.
In the 11th round, Wilson scored a single shot of 95 points. In the 12th round, Murphy scored a single shot of 66 points and won the round with a score of 75-14. In the 13th round, Wilson scored a single shot of 78 points. In the 14th round, Wilson won another round with a score of 87-1. In the 15th round, Wilson scored a single shot of 65 points and completed a super score of 73-0. In the 16th round, Murphy scored a single shot of 55 points and won the round with a score of 96-8, reaching the match point first. In the 17th round, Murphy sealed the victory with a single shot of 100 points.
This is the first championship of the new year in snooker, marking Shaun Murphy's fourth major championship and second Masters title. It has been ten years since he last lifted the Masters trophy. He received a prize of £350,000 for the championship and an additional £15,000 for the highest single shot, but the results of the invitational tournament do not count towards the rankings.