Masters 2026: John Higgins Defies Age to Stun Judd Trump and Book Final Spot

Four-time world champion John Higgins produced a vintage display of resilience to defeat world number one Judd Trump in an Alexandra Palace classic, booking his place in a sixth Masters final at the 2026 edition of the tournament.

The legendary Scot recovered from being 3-0 down early on, and later trailing 5-3, refusing to buckle in a match that underlined why he remains one of snooker’s true greats.

A Rivalry Renewed on a New Stage

Higgins and Trump have shared many iconic battles during their careers, including meetings in the richest match in snooker, the World Championship final, in both 2011 and 2019.

Remarkably, despite their long-standing rivalry, this was the first time the pair had ever met at the Masters.

The victory sends Higgins into his 19th Triple Crown final.

A Long Road Back to the Final

Higgins last reached the Masters final in 2021, when he was beaten by Yan Bingtao, who has since been banned from the sport.

His most recent Masters triumph came 20 years ago in 2006, when he edged Ronnie O’Sullivan in a final-frame decider. His first appearance in the showpiece event dates all the way back to 1995, when he lost to O’Sullivan.

Now, at 50, Higgins has now become the oldest ever Triple Crown finalist, having reached the showpiece event across five different decades of his life, an achievement that leaves Higgins immensely proud.

“The most overriding thing is, I’m just so proud to say that I’ve done it,” he told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

Never Giving In

Higgins highlighted the mental strength required to turn the match around, admitting it could easily have slipped away against the world number one.

“I lost a couple of gut-wrenching frames to go 4-2, then 5-3 behind. It could have been easy to give in, but I never, I just stuck at it.”

One of the Best Wins of His Career

Considering the opponent, the stage and his recent record against Trump, having lost their previous eight professional meetings and not beaten him for nearly three years, Higgins believes the victory ranks among his very best.

"That's got to get down as one of my best ever wins, I think because of the magnitude of who you're playing and with a losing record.”

He even felt Trump would have fancied his chances against the 50-year-old Scot.

“I’m playing in someone who, let's be brutally honest, he’s thinking that he really fancies beating me. So, it's all the things that are stacked against you.”

Finding Belief Again

Not long ago, moments like this felt out of reach for Higgins. In September 2024, he dropped outside the world’s top 16, prompting doubts over whether his days at the elite level were over.

However, winning the 2025 World Open, his first ranking title in three years, reignited his belief.

“You think your time has gone in these big, big finals playing in front of a crowd like that. You think you’re too old and you steadily lose that bit of inner self-belief.”

“To have already achieved what I have this week, some great wins under my belt, I’ve got one more match to give it more.”

What the Trophy Means to Him 

Should Higgins go on to lift the trophy for a third time, he would become the oldest ever Triple Crown winner in snooker history, and the victory would be dedicated to his wife, Denise.

“Listen, I’d really love to be holding that trophy again. I’ve got one in the house, and the wife says it’s best trophy you’ve got. She says try and get another one this week, and I’ll be doing my best,” he concluded. 

Higgins will now await the winner of the second semi-final, which sees last year’s runner-up Kyren Wilson take on debutant Wu Yize, with history firmly within reach for the Scot.