German Masters: Kyren Wilson wins gripping final against David Gilbert

The Warrior had to show all his battling qualities having seen a 5-3 lead wiped out as Gilbert took the first four frames of the evening to move into a 7-5 lead.

But in a match of great ebb and flow, one characterised first by mistakes but then by the winner's brilliance, Wilson returned from the mid-session interval to rattle off four frames and win the match impressively.

It was hard on Gilbert, who was unfortunate at times and could only watch on as Wilson produced his best when he needed it, confining the 37-year-old to his second narrow final defeat in the last six months.

For Wilson it was a German double, having won the Paul Hunter Classic earlier in the campaign, and an important success after a series of disappointments over recent months.

"It's amazing for me, every time I come to Germany, the German fans are absolutely amazing - they turn out in their numbers, they make the atmosphere electric all week long," said Wilson.

"I'm hard, I'm a Wilson - my family are very strong people. My dad, my granddad, my brother, and obviously my mum - that was for them."

Gilbert said: "He battled like hell. I just want to say well done to Kyren. It's the best arena I've ever played in - thanks a lot."

It was Wilson who started best, striding into a 4-1 lead, but Gilbert found his feet towards the midway point of the afternoon session and got within one before Wilson took the final frame for a 5-3 lead.

The interval between sessions did Gilbert the world of good, though, and he drew level with a 94 break before runs of 65 and 58 had him four frames in succession for a surprise 7-5 lead.

Wilson produced a quality break of 93 in the next, his highest of the final, but it was in frame 14 that the match turned. Wilson played a poor safety shot, but the white nudged off the middle pocket and in behind the black for a snooker, rather than leaving Gilbert with a simple frame-winning chance.

Not that Wilson's work was done with that one stroke of fortune, but it kept him in the frame and when a half-chance arrived, he potted a sumptuous red before powering home a blue to take the frame and move level at 7-7.

A 70 break gave Wilson the following frame to move within one of the title, although Gilbert had been in among the balls when, not for the first time in the match, there appeared to be a mobile phone sound from the audience.

By now it seemed clear that it would be Wilson taking the trophy, with Gilbert unable to add a further point as he eventually gave way, despite having done precious little wrong.

Paying tribute to his opponent, Wilson added: "Dave was fantastic. I felt like I had to have a little bit of luck, which I did have."

It's on such moments that titles are won and lost, but there can be no doubt Wilson took his opportunity with both hands once it came.