🏆 Wu Yize announced himself on snooker’s biggest stage, edging Shaun Murphy 18‑17 to win the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday.
The 22‑year‑old held his nerve in a gripping final that went the distance, sealing the title in a deciding frame to become the second Chinese mainland player to lift the sport’s most prestigious trophy after Zhao Xintong.
Wu’s breakthrough comes just a year after Zhao’s historic triumph, a moment the young cueist himself has cited as a turning point.
“Zhao’s success definitely made me believe in myself more because he made history,” Wu said.
Long regarded as one of the game’s brightest prospects, Wu has drawn praise from across the sport. Seven‑time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan earlier this year described him as a “phenomenal player” and tipped him to reach World No. 1 within three years.
In China, Wu is affectionately known as “Little Wu” – a nod both to a former hairstyle and to the calm, composed demeanor he brings to the table under pressure.
Reference(s):
Wu Yize becomes world champion with dramatic win over Shaun Murphy
cgtn.com
