Wilson beats Higgins 10-8 to win International Championship in China

Kyren Wilson defeated John Higgins 10-8 to win the International Championship in China on 7 November 2026, claiming the 12th ranking title of his career.

Wilson, who was the 2024 world champion, arrived in the final having won the Northern Ireland Open two weeks earlier; his opponent was 51-year-old John Higgins, who had been aiming to become snooker’s oldest ranking event winner.

Higgins took an early 2-1 lead after compiling a 141 break in the third frame.

Wilson responded later in the opening phase with a break of 94 to move 4-3 ahead.

Higgins produced runs of 71 and 75 to lead 5-4 at the end of the afternoon session.

The evening session began with the pair sharing the first four frames before Wilson won three consecutive frames with breaks of 80, 52 and 101 to move 9-7; Higgins reduced the deficit to 9-8 but a 61 from Wilson in the 18th frame secured the title.

"It was about sticking in there and bouncing back if I made mistakes," said Wilson, who becomes the 16th player to win back-to-back ranking events. "[Higgins] has made a career out of unbelievable clearances under pressure and has been an idol of mine since I started watching the game. "To play him in a final like this is a dream come true and it is an honour to win."

Higgins had been beaten by world champion Wu Yize in last year's final.