Mark Allen wins first Masters title

Mark Allen beat Kyren Wilson to claim the Masters title for the first time.

Allen, 31, became the first Northern Irishman to win the tournament since Dennis Taylor in 1987, after winning 10-7 to take the £200,000 prize.

It is also the first time he has won one of snooker’s ‘Triple Crown’ events – the Masters, the UK Championship and the World Championship.

Englishmen Wilson was moved to tears following his defeat but the world number 14 should feature in more finals to come, after putting in a mature display throughout the tournament at the age of 26.

Allen spoke to the BBC following his win: "It's been a long time coming, I was never sure it was going to come.

"I felt calm apart from in that first session and felt stronger as the match wore on. I'm just very, very pleased.

"It's 40 years since Alex Higgins first won the trophy to bring it back to the country, that's what I did it for.

"And now that I've done it, hopefully this is stepping stone to bigger and better things."