Shaun Murphy leads Kyren Wilson 6-2 after the first session of the Johnstone's Paint Masters final, with first to ten frames on Sunday night to lift the Paul Hunter Trophy and bank £350,000.
Murphy has been by far the stronger player at Alexandra Palace so far, making two centuries and two more breaks over 60, while World Champion Wilson has made several unforced errors. They resume at 7pm with Wilson needing eight of the last 11 to turn the tables.
Murphy took the opening frame with a break of 94 and dominated the second for 2-0, before Wilson pulled one back with a run of 69. In the fourth, Wilson was on 61 when he missed a straight-forward red to a top corner, and Murphy punished him with an excellent 65 clearance.
World number seven Murphy led 40-21 in frame five when he drilled in a mid-range red to set up a break of 32 for 4-1. And he had chances in the sixth, but failed to convert a risky plant on a red when 30-20 ahead, and this time Wilson took advantage with a 53 clearance.
Murphy made the perfect response with a glorious 134 total clearance. In the last frame of the afternoon, Wilson had an early chance but made just 6 before failing to plant a red, and Murphy wrapped up the session in style with a 116.
Playing in his third Masters final, Murphy is aiming to win the title for the second time, having finished runner-up to Neil Robertson in 2012 then beaten the same player in 2015. Victory would bring him into the club of just 11 other players to win the title on multiple occasions.
The 42-year-old from Irthlingborough is playing in his tenth Triple Crown final and looking for a fourth success, having won the World Championship in 2005 and the UK Championship in 2008. The winner's cheque would be his biggest ever pay-day, surpassing the £250,000 he banked at the Crucible 20 years ago. Murphy's last trophy was the 2023 Championship League.
He conceded just eight frames in his three matches to reach the final, making three centuries - including a historic 147 on Saturday - and ten more breaks over 50.
Wilson is looking to win the Masters for the first time, and is playing in his second final having lost 10-7 to Mark Allen in 2018. He tasted Triple Crown success for the first time last May, beating Jak Jones in the World Championship final. Since then, the 33-year-old from Kettering has gone on to win this season's Xi'an Grand Prix and BetVictor Northern Ireland Open.
The world number two conceded 11 frames en route to the final, making one century and 13 more breaks over 50.
Murphy has won eight of their 11 previous meetings, notably the 2023 Tour Championship final, 2021 World Championship semi-final and 2020 Welsh Open final. Wilson will hope he can fight back tonight and win their biggest match of all.