John Higgins and Kyren Wilson will contest the final of the 2026 Masters as they both won out in final frame deciders in a semi-final day that will live long in the memory.

Higgins overcame deficits on two occasions against Judd Trump to prevail with a performance of pure granite, before Kyren Wilson looked all but out until a missed red from tournament debutant Wu Yize in the tenth frame opened the door and sparked Wilson’s charge to victory.

Wilson will now look to win the Masters on his third appearance in the final, and second in succession after last year’s defeat to Shaun Murphy, while John Higgins, at 50, will aim to become the oldest Triple Crown winner of all time.

Evergreen Higgins into final with another epic comeback

John Higgins 6 – 5 Judd Trump (best of 11 frames)

If John Higgins is to win his first major title since the 2011 World Snooker Championship, no one will doubt that he has earned it after coming from behind again to claim a last-frame victory over world number one Judd Trump.

Higgins, who came from 5–3 down against reigning world champion Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals, repeated the feat by recovering from 3–0 and then 5–3 down to break Trump’s resolve and earn a place in the showpiece final at Alexandra Palace.

Trump, who had won his previous seven meetings with the Scot, eased into a 3–0 lead without having to work hard, as Higgins appeared off the pace, much as he had been in his quarter-final.

But lightning struck twice, and when his opponent failed to capitalise on chances to extend the lead, Higgins pounced to close the gap, heading into the mid-session interval trailing 3–1.

Higgins repeats the comeback magic

Higgins emerged from the interval with renewed purpose, firing in a stunning 104 clearance. Errors then crept into the game on both sides as the next two frames were shared, before a missed red allowed Trump to move 5–3 ahead, the final now tantalisingly close.

But just as it seemed Trump had one foot in the final, he missed a routine brown in the ninth frame, allowing Higgins to extend the match. And just as in the previous round, Higgins took full advantage, sealing victory with breaks of 70 and 57 to reach his first Masters final in five years.

Trump looked stunned but was gracious in defeat, while Higgins punched the air in triumph, soaking up the adulation of a crowd that will surely be willing the oldest Triple Crown finalist of all time to lift the Paul Hunter Trophy on finals day.

Warrior Wilson shows the spirit that could finally make him champion

Kyren Wilson 6 -5 Wu Yize (best of 11 frames)

Kyren Wilson showed every ounce of his fighting spirit against Wu Yize as he came from behind to earn a place in his second successive Masters final.

Wilson missed a pair of routine reds early in the first frame, and Wu showed no nerves in punishing the errors, clearing up with a composed break of 75 to take control.

A less-than-fluent exchange followed in the next two frames, with multiple visits and missed chances on both sides, but Wilson first squared the match before edging back in front after finally dropping the pink in another scrappy frame.

Wu then responded with a solid break of 69 to leave the match level at 2–2 at the mid-session interval.

After the interval, Wilson returned with calm, measured play, compiling breaks of 76 and 74 to open up some daylight over Wu, who looked to have lost composure.

An error-strewn seventh frame went Wu’s way as he sank a long pink to compile a nerve-settling break of 74 and pull back to 4–3.

A free-flowing Wu then levelled the match with a stunning 87 break before moving 5–4 ahead, one frame from the final, aided by a composed 58 despite some anxious safety exchanges.

Wu stood on the brink of victory, but a shocking miss on a red gave Wilson a reprieve, and he held his nerve to force the second final-frame decider of the semi-finals.

A miss by Wu allowed Wilson in, and he produced his best, screaming ‘Come on’ as he claimed the win and his place in the final with a stunning break of 117.

The Final Session Times

The 2026 Masters final, played over two sessions in a best of 19 frames finish, will start at 1pm GMT (8am Eastern) with the second session at 7pm GMT (2pm Eastern)

He who hesitates is lost.

Did the owner of Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals franchise, John Sherman, overplay his hand in the stadium game? Sherman looked to be in an ideal position pitting Missouri against Kansas in a battle to win his heart by granting him public money and more than likely public land for his dream stadium. But a funny thing happened on the road to getting money and land from either state. Right now, Sherman has lost the Kansas offer. That expired on December 31^st, 2025. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said that the December 31^st deadline for the Royals to pursue state-backed STAR bonds has passed. “They had their lobbyists reach out and ask if there was any wiggle room, and I reemphasized December 31^st was the date and you didn’t make it, so we’re moving on,” Hawkins said. “The Royals and the Chiefs both had plenty of time. They had 18 months to come up with a good plan. The Chiefs did that. The Royals did not.” National Football League Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt took the Kansas money offer and is planning to build a stadium-village in the state although not all the eyes are dotted and the tees have been crossed.

Of course, no never means never in the stadium game. Kansas could crawl back into the game. Sherman also lost another option, North Kansas City. Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington said negotiations with  Sherman are over. “Like Kansas, I’m done negotiating with the Kansas City Royals,” he said. “Last year, we were told the team wanted to be on the November 2025 ballot. We worked in good faith all summer to make that happen. As the August deadline approached, we were then told they wanted to move to the April 2026 ballot at the earliest.” It is back to talking to Kansas City and Missouri politicians for Sherman.

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The Houston Texans reached this round with a 12 and 5 record after a dominant wild card win over Pittsburgh. They crushed the Steelers 30 to 6 at Acrisure Stadium.

Houston’s defense controlled the game from start to finish. A relentless pass rush and opportunistic secondary turned a close contest into a second half blowout.

Their season featured steady growth under C J Stroud and a defense that finished among the league’s best in points allowed.

The New England Patriots advanced with an 11 and 7 record after a tense wild card victory over Los Angeles. They protected a narrow fourth quarter lead with two critical defensive stops.

New England relied on a balanced offense and a young quarterback who gained confidence throughout the season. Their defense remained the team’s identity with disciplined coverage and timely pressure.

Both teams enter this matchup with momentum and belief. The game features two rising franchises with dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Key players who will shape this game

C J Stroud leads Houston with precise decision making and downfield accuracy. His command of the offense remains the foundation of the Texans passing attack.

Dameon Pierce adds physicality with his inside running and reliable production in short yardage situations. His success keeps Houston on schedule and opens play action opportunities.

Nico Collins stretches defenses with size and speed on the perimeter. Tank Dell adds explosive separation and quick strike potential from the slot and motion looks.

Houston’s defense features Will Anderson as a constant edge threat. Derek Stingley anchors the secondary with tight coverage and strong ball skills in man situations.

New England counters with Drake Maye who brings mobility and arm strength. His ability to extend plays outside structure stresses any pass rush.

Rhamondre Stevenson powers the Patriots ground game with tackle breaking runs and dependable pass protection. His presence helps control tempo and clock.

DeMario Douglas provides quickness and yards after catch ability in the short passing game.

The Patriots defense leans on Matthew Judon as its premier pass rusher. Christian Gonzalez stabilizes the secondary with smooth coverage and closing speed.

Both teams rely on young quarterbacks and aggressive defenses. One explosive play or takeaway could swing the entire night.

What awaits the winner

The winner advances to the AFC Championship Game. Their opponent will be either the Denver Broncos or the Buffalo Bills depending on the other divisional result.

A Texans win would continue their rapid rise under DeMeco Ryans and validate their defensive dominance. A Patriots win would mark a major step forward in their post Belichick era.