Wu Yize Claims Historic World Snooker Championship Title
Wu Yize's Triumph at the World Snooker Championship
File image of Chinese player Wu Yize (Photo: @Cynthia21407708/X)
Sheffield, May 5: Wu Yize has made history by winning the World Snooker Championship for the first time, defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling final that will be remembered as one of the greatest.
At just 22 years and 202 days old, Wu is now the second youngest player to ever win this prestigious title, following Stephen Hendry, who was 21 when he won in 1990. Wu becomes the 25th player to lift the iconic trophy at the Crucible Theatre, marking a remarkable trend of four consecutive first-time winners, following Luca Brecel in 2023, Kyren Wilson in 2024, and Zhao in 2025.
This victory marks Wu's second title, propelling him from tenth to fourth in the world rankings. Remarkably, he had never won a match at the Crucible prior to this year, having lost in the first round during his previous attempts in 2023 and 2025. However, his talent and composure under pressure made him a strong contender this time around.
His path to the final included victories over Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, and Hossein Vafaei, leading to a nail-biting semi-final against Mark Allen, which he won 17-16 before facing Murphy.
"I am so happy I could play like that," Wu expressed to World Snooker. "I played for my family, for myself, and for China. My parents are the true champions. Since I decided to leave school, my dad has been by my side, and my mum has endured so much over the years. They are my strength, and I love them dearly."
"I can't thank the fans enough; regardless of who you support, the love for snooker is mutual. I just want to get some good sleep! Since the second session, I've been feeling quite nervous, so right now, I just want to go to bed!"
The final was a spectacular match, featuring three centuries, 29 additional breaks over 50, and an average frame time of just 17 minutes, as both players adopted an aggressive strategy. Wu's bold potting was particularly evident in the deciding frame—the first in a Crucible final since 2002—where he successfully potted a challenging red and went on to score an impressive break of 85, securing the championship and the £500,000 top prize.
Murphy aimed to become the seventh player to win the title multiple times and could have set a record for the longest gap between titles, having first won in 2005.
He remains with 13 ranking titles from 30 finals, and the £200,000 runner-up prize elevates him from eighth to fifth in the world rankings. Murphy has now faced defeat in his last four finals at Sheffield, previously losing to John Higgins in 2009, Stuart Bingham in 2015, and Mark Selby in 2021.
Murphy remarked, "It was an incredible match; it had everything. Wu is one of the most gifted players I've ever encountered. I played against him in China this season, and after that match, I predicted he would become a world champion. I am happy for him but heartbroken for myself."
"I was in the lead in the final frame but couldn't secure a good position. After that, I executed the best safety shots I could. I don't feel like I lost the final—Wu won it. I couldn't have tried harder, and I am very proud of my performance."