WILSON REACHES FINAL AND ENDS TRUMP'S SLAM DREAM

Kyren Wilson scored a superb 6-3 victory over Judd Trump in the semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Masters, ending Trump's hopes of winning all four major titles in a single season.

Wilson stormed back from 3-2 down to take the last four frames, making a break over 70 in each of those, to set up a final with Shaun Murphy on Sunday at Alexandra Palace with the Paul Hunter Trophy and £350,000 top prize at stake. Having lost his only previous final against Mark Allen in 2018, this is Wilson's chance to win his first Masters title and add that honour to his World Champion status. 

Trump, having won the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship, was on a mission to become the first player to capture all four majors in a single campaign, but made uncharacteristic errors tonight. The world number one misses out on a third Masters final having won the title in 2019 and 2023.

The Bristolian has now lost three of four huge clashes with Wilson this season, having finished runner-up in the finals of the Xi'an Grand Prix and BetVictor Northern Ireland Open, though Trump did get the better of their UK semi-final meeting in York.

Wilson took the opening frame with a break of 61, then recovered a 37-0 deficit to snatch the second with an 89 clearance. The Kettering cueman had a golden chance for 3-0 but lost position from black to red on 44, then had to watch as Trump made 85 for 2-1. In the fourth, Wilson trailed 52-27 when he missed a tricky pot on the third last red, and Trump capitalised again to square the tie.

Wilson was just two pots from taking frame five when he missed the yellow with the long rest, leading by 23 points. Trump laid a series of snookers and gained 43 penalty points, before sealing the frame with a superb long pot on the blue. Back came Wilson with a run of 76 for 3-3, then he took advantage of Trump's miss on a risky thin-cut black in the seventh to make 88 and edge ahead.

World number two Wilson kept his momentum going with a run of 85 for 5-3. And when Trump missed the pink to corner on 14 in frame nine, Wilson wrapped it up in style with a 106.

"From 3-3 it seemed to go into the blink of an eye to 6-3," said 33-year-old Wilson. "I got into a rhythm and decided to be as positive as possible because you have to take your chances against Judd. I'm really pleased with the way I finished the match off. I'm looking forward to the challenge of the final.

"I want this title on my CV. I am a very different person and player compared to how I was in my first final here in 2018. I've got a lot of confidence going into this one. I have had a fantastic season already and I'm proud of the way I have managed to handle myself as World Champion."

"Every match here could be a final so I go into every game with that kind of mindset and I feel I have already won three finals. Before the break-off tonight, Judd and I said to each other how great the atmosphere was. That was incredible tonight. I wish there were more tournaments like this because it's so inspiring, it's a privilege to play here."

Trump said: "From 3-2 I didn't play well. I played some loose safeties. Then at 3-3 I took on a risky black, if that had gone in it was 4-3 to me. I missed some easy balls which I didn't miss in my first two matches. That threw me a bit and I didn't get much fluency.

Kyren played ok, I gave it to him a little bit. He scored more heavily than me and that was the main difference. I'll dust myself off and try to win the next tournament."