Kyren Wilson targeting first Masters title as he sets up final showdown with John Higgins

‘The Warrior’ secured a second successive nail-biting 6-5 win to see off China’s Wu Yize in his semi-final on Saturday night, 24 hours after seeing off Neil Robertson by the same score in the last eight.

Once again, Wilson was staring down the barrel at Alexandra Palace in London as Yize looked set to clear up when leading 5-4, but a missed red when he was 44-11 up gave his opponent a chance.

Wilson took that chance as he produced a 46 clearance to make it 5-5, and then hit a superb 116 break in the decider to win the match.

World number two Wilson, who trains out of Barratts Club in Northampton, now goes into his third Masters final, having lost 10-7 to Mark Allen in 2018, and by the same score to Shaun Murphy 12 months ago.

He takes on a ‘hero’ of his in Scottish great Higgins, who was also a 6-5 winner in his last four clash with world number one Judd Trump.

It has been a great week after a difficult few months for 2024 world champion Wilson, and he is relishing the chance of claiming a first Masters crown.

“I'm not sure how many more deciders I can take!" said the 34-year-old after his dramatic semi-final win. “At 5-4 it looked as if I was going home, but the snooker Gods shone on me.

“When Wu missed I saw a red to the middle which would give me a chance, that ignited something in me. I made a really good clearance there and then the century in the decider.

“I felt coming here this week that I could compete, I had some confidence and belief.

“Finals here are always tough, I've played Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy and it doesn't get any easier against John Higgins.

“He is a hero of mine, I grew up watching him and I love what he has given to the game, he is a role model."

The final is a best of 19-frame encounter, with the action starting at 1pm. There is live coverage throughout the day on BBC2.