Quick Facts
| Champion | Mark Allen |
| Runner-up | Kyren Wilson |
| Final Score | 10-7 |
| Venue | Alexandra Palace, London |
| Dates | 14-21 January 2018 |
The 2018 Masters was the 44th edition of one of snooker’s most prestigious invitational events, held at Alexandra Palace in London. Officially part of the 2017-18 snooker season, it delivered a memorable final between two players making their first Triple Crown final appearances, with Mark Allen emerging as champion after defeating Kyren Wilson 10-7. If you want background on the tournament’s full history and format, the Masters snooker tournament overview has you covered.
Tournament Recap
From the moment the draw was announced, the 2018 Masters had the feel of a tournament ready to produce a new name on the trophy. Alexandra Palace, with its electric atmosphere and partisan crowd, is the kind of venue that either settles nerves or shreds them completely, and plenty of the game’s biggest stars found it a tough place to be that January. Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, always the dominant presence at Ally Pally, was unable to retain his title, leaving the door open for a fresh face to step up and seize the moment.
Mark Allen had been one of the more consistent performers on the circuit for years without landing a Triple Crown event. The Northern Irishman came into the 2018 Masters in decent form, and he showed throughout the week that he was not simply making up the numbers. His run to the final was composed and clinical, and by the time he reached the championship match he looked the part of a player who genuinely believed this was his time. On the other side of the draw, Kyren Wilson was writing his own story. The Englishman is a grafter by nature, a tenacious competitor who grinds opponents down rather than dazzling them, and he put that quality to good use across several tough matches to earn his place in a first major final.
The final itself played out in front of a sold-out Alexandra Palace crowd that was hoping to witness history, and Allen delivered it. He dominated large portions of the match, building a commanding lead and never allowing Wilson the sustained run of frames that would have made it a genuine contest in the closing stages. Allen won 10-7 to claim his first Triple Crown title and become the first Northern Irishman to lift the Masters trophy since Dennis Taylor did so back in 1987. That is a 31-year gap between Northern Irish winners of the event, which puts the achievement into sharp context. For Wilson, the pain of a final defeat was real, but reaching a first Triple Crown final at Alexandra Palace is hardly a failure, and it confirmed he belonged at the very top level of the game.
The 2018 edition will be remembered as the year the Masters found two first-time Triple Crown finalists in the same draw, which is genuinely rare at an event dominated so often by the established elite. Both Allen and Wilson had spent years knocking on the door of the biggest occasions, and Ally Pally in January 2018 gave them both the stage. One walked away with the trophy, one left with a runner-up finish, but both cemented their reputations as serious players capable of performing when the pressure is highest. For snooker fans who had grown slightly tired of seeing the same handful of names contest every major final, this was a refreshing and genuinely exciting week of action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2018 Masters snooker?
Mark Allen won the 2018 Masters, defeating Kyren Wilson 10-7 in the final at Alexandra Palace. It was his first Triple Crown title.
Who did Mark Allen beat in the 2018 Masters final?
Allen beat Kyren Wilson in the final. Both players were appearing in a Triple Crown final for the first time in their careers.
What was the score in the 2018 Masters snooker final?
The final score was 10-7 to Mark Allen. The match was played as a best-of-19 frames contest, as is standard for the Masters final.
Where was the 2018 Masters snooker held?
The event was held at Alexandra Palace in London, which has been the home of the Masters for many years and is known for its unique and passionate atmosphere.
Was the 2018 Masters significant for Northern Irish snooker?
Yes. Mark Allen’s victory made him the first Northern Irishman to win the Masters since Dennis Taylor in 1987, a gap of 31 years between winners from that part of the world.