Snooker today: What time the Masters final is on and who's playing
John Higgins is playing in today's Masters 2026 snooker final
The Masters 2026 concludes today, with two snooker heavyweights going head to head. So, make sure you know what time the final is on.
It’s been an eventful week for snooker fans. Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out of the Masters (citing medical reasons), with Chris Wakelin subbed in to take on Neil Robertson.
However, while Robertson proceeded into the quarters, he lost with a narrow 6-5 defeat to Kyren Wilson.
Wilson has secured a place in the final, but he’ll have to beat the number five player in the world – so you don’t want to miss the coverage of the semi-final today.
Masters final: What time does the snooker start today?
The Masters final will begin at 1pm today (January 17) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Coverage will then resume at 7pm.
Unlike the world championship, the Masters is mostly played over the best of 11 frames. However, the final is played over the best of 19 frames (so, the first to 10).
JOHN HIGGINS THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
The Wizard of Wishaw comes from 0-3 and 3-5 down to beat Judd Trump in an Ally Pally CLASSIC! 🤯
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— WST (@WeAreWST) January 17, 2026
Thankfully, this also means the final won’t spill over into the next day. So, it could be a late night – especially if it’s like last night’s semi-final.
Who won the snooker yesterday?
John Higgins beat Judd Trump after an extraordinary comeback in the first Masters semi-final. He climbed back to achieve a 6-5 victory.
“People will laugh but I think I’m a better player now than I’ve ever been. You play these great champions like Judd and I am so proud because I’ve lost the last few against him,” Higgins told BBC Sport.
Meanwhile, Wu Yize (the WST’s 2022 ‘Rookie of the Year’) demolished Xiao Guodong 6-0 in the quarters. However, it wasn’t enough to beat Wilson, who won his semi against Yize in a 6-5 thriller.
Who’s playing today?
Kyren Wilson will take on John Higgins in today’s Masters 2026 final.
Speaking after his semi-final victory, Higgins admitted that he’s often been “back home watching these finals with so many years going past”.
“Deep down you are maybe thinking, your time has maybe run out to be playing in these massive finals in front of big crowds. I am so proud,” he added.
Wilson climbed back after Yize jumped ahead, maintaining his composure in two crucial frames.
Masters 2026: Final schedule
Below, you can find the full snooker schedule for the rest of the Masters 2026 tournament:
Final (January 18)
- John Higgins v Kyren Wilson – 1pm, continuing at 7pm
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