Wu Yize was crowned World Snooker Champion at the Crucible after defeating Shaun Murphy in the deciding frame.
After two days, four intense sessions, and all 35 frames played, 22-year-old Wu held his nerve to etch his name into snooker’s history as the 25th world champion and the second-ever Chinese winner, following the footsteps of Zhao Xintong 12 months ago.
He also became the youngest champion since Stephen Hendry in 1990.
A phenomenal ending
Wu Yize had a 10-7 overnight lead coming into Monday, but it quickly evaporated when Shaun Murphy claimed the first five frames of the afternoon session to retake the lead.
Murphy’s fiery start to the day did not rattle the young man, but it fueled him to take the next three to hold the lead going into the final session.
Both players played tremendously in the ultimate session, dragging the match into a deciding 35th frame.
In this winner-take-all battle, Wu Yize held his nerve perfectly and made an 85-point break to claim his maiden world title.
Not only is Wu becoming the reigning world champion and a top-five player in the ranking, but he is now also £500,000 richer with the first-place prize money.
From Lanzhou to Sheffield
In the crowning moment, Wu reminded everyone of the amazing journey he had endured before the glory.
At 14 years old, Wu Yize broke out as one of the world’s next snooker sensations when he won the World U-21 Championship.
Understanding his passion and talent, he quit school, left his hometown in China, and moved to Sheffield at just 16 to pursue snooker.
Wu and his father lived in a windowless flat, where they had to share a bed as he practised at compatriot Ding Junhui’s snooker academy.
Ding, as some may call Sheffield’s adopted son, was widely regarded as China’s biggest snooker icon when he became a multiple-time UK Championship winner and made the World Snooker Championship final in 2016.
After two years of practising, Wu Yize’s name came to light in 2021 when he turned professional. He immediately made headlines and was named the World Snooker Tour’s “Rookie of the Year.”
He refined himself throughout the years on tour, lighting up tournaments with his generational long-potting ability and high-level feel for the game despite his young age.
The 22-year-old starboy showcased every drop of his quality in this year’s championship when he smashed through Lei Peifan and Hossein Vafaei, defeated one of his idols, Mark Selby, came back from the dead against Mark Allen and finally won the decider against Shaun Murphy in the grand finale.
“The true champions”
He attributed this victory to his dedicated parents, who stayed with him every step of his career.
He said to the BBC after his win: “My parents are the true champions. Since I made the decision to drop out of school, my dad has been by my side. My mum has also been going through a lot over the years.
“They are the source of my strength. I love them so much.”
After a stellar showing this tournament, Wu Yize has gained plenty of fans, especially the great people of Sheffield, where he spent countless hours practising to become the champion he is now.
They created a chant for him, and they were singing it outside the Crucible when he made the last few balls to win the title.
Sheffield would be more than happy to call him the city’s next adopted son.
