World Champions Wilson and Higgins both progress on day three of the Masters

Making his 10th Masters appearance - all of those have come consecutively since his debut in 2017 - Wilson defeated China’s Si Jiahui, 6-2, in the afternoon session.

The 2024 World Champion deposited the opening frame and then doubled his lead with an effort of 80 which was a maximum attempt before he missed the 11th red with the balls decently placed.

Si - on his second Masters outing, following his debut last year - got on the board with a 97, but world number two Wilson went into the mid-session interval 3-1 up.

The second-youngest cueist in this year’s field, 23-year-old Si kept in touch on resumption as he claimed frame five, but Wilson strung together the next three frames with breaks of 59, 101 and 105 to stamp a ticket for the last eight.

Wilson is a two-time Masters runner-up; he was denied the title by Mark Allen in 2018, and Shaun Murphy last year - on both occasions he was defeated 10-7.

‘The Warrior’ began this season perfectly by winning the Shanghai Masters in August, but since then it has been an average, and at times difficult, campaign having not been to a semi-final since.

At last month’s UK Championship, Wilson was visibly distressed as he struggled with cue issues during his opening round loss.

But now, ten-time ranking event winner Wilson is using a new cue and looking to the future. Speaking with the BBC shortly after his win, he said to the Ally Pally audience: "It has been a really tough time so I thank you for all your love you have given me, it really lifted me.”

Wilson added: "This venue can bring the best out of you. I still have a lot of time in this game so hopefully I can conquer this venue for a long time."

Explaining the cue problems he had at the UK Championship, the 34-year-old said: "I had to put a ferrule and a tip on the cue on the day of my first-round match and it got to boiling point when I felt I had let people down.

"I had a bit of a hissy fit at the end of that game. I'm over that now and I've got a cue that I've been playing with since the Scottish Open and I'm very happy with it."

Next up for Wilson is either Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin; those two meet on Wednesday night in the final round one fixture.

Higgins extends Masters appearance record

Two-time Masters champion Higgins put on an excellent display as he dismissed Barry Hawkins, 6-2.

Hawkins took the first frame with the aid of a 58 break, but efforts of 50, 71 and 53 put Higgins 3-1 ahead at the interval.

Runner-up here in 2016 and 2022, Hawkins fashioned a 64 in frame five as he reduced the gap, but world number five Higgins went on another three-frame sequence, this time with contributions of 99, 58 and 61.

Interviewed by the BBC after his victory, the Scot said: "I was delighted with the way I hit the ball. Even at the start, I felt good in myself and Barry didn't play as well as he can, but I'm delighted to beat someone as good as him.”

Fifty-year-old Higgins was making a record-extending 32nd appearance in professional snooker’s most prestigious invitational event - three more than second-placed Ronnie O’Sullivan, and four more than third-placed Mark Williams.

Last year was a career-rejuvenating one for Higgins as he ended a four-year wait for a ranking title at the World Open, and then won another just weeks later at the Tour Championship. In November, he made the final of the International Championship.

However, his last Triple Crown accolade came in 2011, and the second of his Masters crowns was two decades ago in 2006; he would dearly love to complete a hat-trick this week.

Higgins’ next assignment in the £1 million-plus event is reigning world champion Zhao Xintong on Thursday afternoon.

All six completed matches at this year’s tournament have finished 6-2.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Masters, visit here.