In the early hours of May 5, Beijing time, 22-year-old Chinese snooker sensation Wu Yize defeated England’s “Magician” Shaun Murphy in the final of the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, claiming the sport’s most prestigious trophy.
“To be honest, I’ve been craving this world title. I don’t think anyone wanted it more than me. Day after day, I lived the same routine for a month. I was willing to give everything to get it,” Wu said emotionally after his victory.
Murphy, gracious in defeat, admitted that after facing Wu earlier this year, he had sensed the young Chinese player would become world champion—though he didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
The World Snooker Tour (WST) website ran a front-page headline: “After the Crucible final, Wu defines the world.” The report stated: “Wu Yize conquered the Crucible for the first time and became China’s second consecutive champion. He defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a final that will go down in history.”
Wu’s triumph marks the second time a Chinese player has won the world title, following Zhao Xintong’s victory in 2025. More significantly, he becomes the first “post-00s” champion in the history of the World Snooker Championship, and at 22, he is also the second-youngest world champion ever, behind only Stephen Hendry.
Wu’s path to glory was anything but smooth. He overcame compatriot Lei Peifan in the first round, then dispatched four-time world champion Mark Selby in the second. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Iranian star Hossein Vafaei. In the semifinals, he staged a stunning comeback from 14-16 down against Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, winning three consecutive frames to seal a 17-16 victory and book his place in the final.
The final itself, a best-of-35 marathon, was a battle of technique, patience, and willpower. Across four sessions, Wu outlasted Murphy to win 18-17, earning a standing ovation from the crowd at the Crucible.
### From a Windowless Apartment to £500,000 Prize
Born in 2003 in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, along the Yellow River, Wu first picked up a cue at age 7 in his father’s pool hall.
In November 2025, Wu claimed his first ranking title at the International Championship by defeating Judd Trump, Zhao Xintong, and John Higgins, breaking into the world’s top 16 for the first time.
After reaching the final, the BBC highlighted Wu’s early struggles in the UK, reporting that he and his father initially lived in a windowless apartment, often sharing a single bed. “Now, Wu is just one step away from the sport’s ultimate glory and a £500,000 prize,” the report noted.
Wu later thanked his parents, saying: “They are the real champions. Since I dropped out of school as a child, my father has never left my side. My mother has also endured a lot. They are my eternal spiritual strength.”
### ‘The Worst Opponent You Can Face’
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who served as a BBC commentator, praised Wu highly: “What a brilliant player! He’s so good. He plays very solidly and dares to attack. Obviously, he’s at a stage where he hasn’t experienced many setbacks and doesn’t think about the consequences of mistakes—he just enjoys the game.” Hendry added: “That’s the worst opponent you can face—someone who looks like he’s having fun.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan, another snooker legend, called Wu “a modern-day Steve Davis” and predicted his rise: “Give him three years, he’ll become world champion. He’s a phenomenal player.” O’Sullivan even noted that Wu is “more energetic, more powerful, and more attacking” than the greats.
Mark Selby, a four-time world champion who lost to Wu in this tournament, had high praise before the match: “I’ve watched him since he was 14. He was practicing with his father at the club. My friends said he would go far, and I had to keep an eye on him.”
Shaun Murphy, before the final, called Wu “one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen from any country” and said: “Wu Yize will definitely become world champion—there’s no doubt about that.”
### China’s
