Wilson withstands Murphy fightback for Champion of Champions final berth
Wilson extended his winning streak to 15 matches while booking his place in the final (Credit: Matchroom Multi-Sport)
Kyren Wilson booked his place in the 2026 Champion of Champions final, after holding on for a 6-4 win over Shaun Murphy on Saturday.
It is a third successive tournament final appearance for the in-form Warrior, who has now won each of his last 15 matches.
Wilson, the recent winner of the Northern Ireland Open and International Championship, hit breaks of 138, 92, 91 and 75 at the Mattioli Arena, as he surged into a 5-1 lead.
The 2018 Champion of Champions finalist then held his nerve after Murphy reduced his lead to a single frame at 5-4, with a break of 110 ending his run of six straight defeats against the Magician.
“That match brought me back to the World Championship semi-final against Shaun [in 2021], where I steamed ahead and he clawed back [from 12-9 down to win 17-12],” Wilson told ITV4.
“I’ve not got the best record against Shaun, he always plays incredible against me, so I was expecting the same tonight. He’s such a good potter, he can put you under the pressure when he gets in his strut.
“I felt I didn’t miss howlers, it was more I lost my white a couple of times. I just needed to stay calm and take my chances, and that’s what got it over the line.”
Such was Murphy’s dominance in the head-to-head, he had actually won 12 of the 13 most recent frames he had contested with Wilson.
The Magician also arrived having reeled off 10 frames without reply against Ronnie O’Sullivan and Chang Bingyu on Wednesday, but his opponent stopped the streak with a brilliant opening break of 138.
Wilson doubled his lead after Murphy overcut the yellow in frame two, and though the 2017 champion got his first frame on the board with 82, a 91 restored the Warrior’s breathing space at the mid-session interval.
The world number eight, fresh from inflicting a 6-1 rout of world number one Zhao Xintong on Thursday, picked up from where he left off at the restart, with runs of 75 and 92 moving him to the brink of victory.
Back came Murphy, though, taking a tight seventh frame on the colours, before controlling the next two with contributions of 58, 46 and 83 to move within one of his opponent.
However, Wilson was not to be denied, as a timely 110 got him over the line and into his second Champion of Champions final, where Chris Wakelin awaits on Sunday.
“Chris Wakelin is having a great spell, winning the Scottish Open to rightfully be in this tournament,” the Warrior said, looking ahead to the final. “So, hopefully tomorrow, we give the fans a good match to watch.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us both. I know Chris will fancy the job, I know I do. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
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