Wilson edges Trump to win Players Championship

Kyren Wilson has now won 10 ranking titles, level with Jimmy White

World champion Kyren Wilson won his first Players Championship title by beating world number one Judd Trump 10-9 in a thrilling final.

With both playing aggressively, the two best players in the world on current form were tied at 4-4 at the interval in Telford.

Trump claimed a scrappy ninth frame after the resumption before Wilson reeled off the next four to seemingly take control.

But UK champion Trump won four of the next five frames, making the only century break of the match in the 18th to force a decider.

Amid tense exchanges, Trump missed a long red to the corner and Wilson pounced to claim his fourth ranking title of the season, with three of those victories coming against Trump.

He had previously beaten Trump in the Xi'an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open finals in 2024.

"It's so special to lift trophies," said Wilson.

"It was mentioned this week that if I won, I would go level with the legend Jimmy White on 10 ranking titles. For me growing up, watching a legend like Jimmy, to be level with him is a dream come true."

Trump afterwards complained the cue ball was "very light" and "taking off like a ping-pong ball", which "kind of bogged us both down a little bit".

Wilson said: "Judd hit the nail on the head. I feel like it's a good, healthy rivalry, it's just a shame we couldn't peak like we have done all week."

Wilson was playing in his first Players Championship final, while Trump was aiming for his third title in this event, having last won in 2019-20.

Trump set the record for the most ranking titles in a season that term, with six wins.

Wilson has two ranking tournaments remaining this campaign to equal that record - the Tour Championship in Manchester, starting on 31 March, before he attempts to defend his world title in Sheffield, beginning on 19 April.

"We're a couple away now from the World Championship," added Wilson. "It gives me a bit of confidence going into that."

Former world champion Trump has won three events himself this term, two of them ranking titles, and has earned the most prize money in a single campaign.

The pair will be among the favourites for the 2025 World Championship, alongside Masters champion Shaun Murphy and four-time winner Mark Selby.

Seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan is not scheduled to play again until the World Championship after withdrawing from several events for medical reasons meant he did not qualify for the Players Championship or Tour Championship.