Mark Allen holds nerve to claim first major title at Masters

There was nothing to separate the pair on Sunday afternoon after the first session ended 4-4, with neither player able to move more than one frame in front in the best-of-19 frame match.

But Northern Irishman Allen was the sharper player in the evening session as he made 73, 119 and 50 to win four of the next five frames for an 8-5 advantage in the world's greatest invitational tournament.

Kettering's Wilson threatened to produce a rousing recovery when he closed to 8-7 behind, but he could not keep up the momentum as Allen held his nerve superbly well to dominate the final two frames with runs of 69 and 71 enough for his first major tournament victory.

He earns £200,000 for his efforts.

"I'm over the moon. Somebody said it was 40 years since Alex Higgins lifted this trophy," said Allen, who enjoyed wins over Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins on his way to the title.

"To bring it back to Northern Ireland, that's what I do it for."

Despite the discomfort of a chafing waistcoat which was eventually changed ahead of the third frame, Wilson edged ahead, capitalising with a break of 65 after Allen had made 39 before running out of position.

Allen ensured there will be a new name on the trophy by defeating two-time champion John Higgins in Saturday’s second semi-final and he quickly levelled, knocking in 62 and then completing the job after giving his opponent a brief chance at the table.

Another half-century from Kettering-born Wilson was enough to steal the third after Allen had again made the early running, before the pair went in level at the mid-session interval following a lengthy, mistake-littered fourth frame which was briefly interrupted by a wasp on the baize and a phone in the audience.

The ringing mobile went off three times before the hapless spectator was escorted from the arena but Wilson, who was forced to get up off his shot each time, showed no ill-will and asked for the man to be let back in.

Allen, looking to follow in the footsteps of Northern Irish greats Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor by winning this competition, took the next frame to lead for the first time in the match at 3-2, but it was proving difficult to separate the duo and world number 14 Wilson’s superb break of 86 restored parity.

That break was the highest of the match at that point but Wilson quickly bettered it by three to take the next frame before Allen pegged him back by grinding out the next one.