China’s Wu Yize has claimed his first World Snooker Championship title after edging England’s Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a tense final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Monday.
The 22-year-old held his nerve in a deciding-frame showdown to secure a memorable victory, becoming only the second Chinese player to win the prestigious world title, following Zhao Xintong’s triumph last year over Mark Williams.
Wu also made history as the second-youngest world champion at the Crucible, behind England’s Stephen Hendry, who won the title at age 21 in 1990.
Speaking after his victory, Wu expressed relief and joy after months of preparation and pressure. He said he had been nervous leading up to the match and was simply looking forward to resting after the exhausting contest.
The emotional win was made even more special as Wu’s parents were seen in tears during the trophy presentation, sharing the milestone moment with their son on stage.
Wu paid tribute to his family, calling them his greatest source of strength. He revealed that his father had supported him closely since he made the decision to leave school to pursue snooker, while his mother had also endured significant sacrifices over the years.
Murphy, a four-time World Championship finalist, praised Wu after the match, acknowledging his opponent’s talent and predicting he would one day become world champion, though expressing disappointment that it happened against him.
The final was tightly contested throughout, with Wu leading 10-7 after the opening session and maintaining a narrow advantage through the day. Murphy fought back strongly, levelling the match at 16-16 with a century break.
Wu responded under pressure, producing key clearances, including a crucial 91 break and an 85 run in the closing stages to keep himself in contention.
The match ultimately went to a deciding frame, where Wu capitalised on a missed shot from Murphy to compile a match-winning break of 85 and seal the title.
From Lanzhou in north-west China, Wu turned professional at 17 and later moved to Sheffield to further his career, initially living in modest conditions before rising through the ranks of professional snooker.
His breakthrough season included ranking title success and victories over top players such as Mark Selby and Mark Allen, cementing his status as one of the sport’s rising stars.
