Allen seals Masters Snooker title

London: Mark Allen said he felt “calmer as the match went on” after seeing off the challenge of a spirited Kyren Wilson to seal his first Masters title with a 10-7 victory at London’s Alexandra Palace.

The world number eight was matched for much of Sunday’s contest by his fellow first-time finalist before edging away to lift the Paul Hunter trophy and pocket £200,000 ($278,000) in prize money.

It was 40 years since Alex Higgins won his first Masters title and Northern Ireland’s Allen, who beat former champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins on his way to the final, followed in the footsteps of his countryman after a marathon match lasting five hours and 14 minutes.