Wu Yize has etched his name into snooker history by becoming the second youngest winner of the World Snooker Championship after a breathtaking 18-17 victory over Shaun Murphy at the Crucible Theatre. The 22-year-old Chinese sensation, who had never won a match at the Crucible prior to this year, delivered an extraordinary run of performances in Sheffield to claim the title.
The final was the first at the Crucible to go down to a deciding frame since Peter Ebdon defeated Stephen Hendry in 2002. Wu's path to glory included victories over Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, Hossein Vafaei, and a dramatic deciding-frame win against Mark Allen in the semi-finals.
A Battle of Attrition
Both players displayed relentless attacking snooker, trading blows over 34 scintillating frames. Momentum swung repeatedly as big breaks flowed, with neither player losing their nerve. Ultimately, Wu edged ahead to cross the line in a contest that will be remembered as one of the greatest finals in the sport's history.
After Zhao Xintong became China's first world champion in 2025, the nation now boasts two Crucible kings. Murphy, gracious in defeat, said: 'It's been an excellent couple of weeks for me and my team here in Sheffield. We've had an amazing time, some great performances, and we came very close. I'd like to be the first to congratulate Wu Yize, his family, and everyone around him on being a wonderful world champion.'
Momentum Swings
Wu started the final day leading 10-7, but his composure appeared to desert him in the third session. Murphy reeled off the first five frames of the day with breaks of 76, 52, 59, and 60 to take a 12-10 lead. However, Wu stopped the rot with a 64 break and levelled the match before the session ended. He then produced a difficult break of 61 to go 13-12 ahead.
The Chinese star, who seemed spent, roared back into form to regain the lead. The final session began with contrasting entrances: Wu barely acknowledged the crowd, while Murphy soaked up the atmosphere. Wu settled quickly, knocking in a powerful 88 break, but Murphy responded with 82 to level at 14-14.
Dramatic Steals
The match reached new heights with two dramatic steals. Wu made a 70 break, only for Murphy to clear up with 65 and pinch the frame on the black. Despite that setback, Wu fired back with a long red and a half-century to move 16-15 ahead. Murphy then produced a brilliant 131 break to bring the crowd to their feet and level the match once again.
Errors crept into both players' games, but they still capitalized on each other's mistakes. Wu went one from victory with a 91 break, and Murphy responded with a 75 to force a decider. In the final frame, Murphy briefly got in first but played safe. Wu seized his chance with an excellent red to the middle and compiled a break of 85 to seal the championship in swashbuckling style.
This victory marks a historic moment for Chinese snooker and cements Wu Yize's status as a rising star in the sport.
