On May 5, 2026, the Snooker World Championship concluded with a thrilling final, as Chinese rising star Wu Yize defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 to claim the title. This victory makes Wu the first post-2000 world champion in snooker history and the second Chinese player to win the prestigious event, following Zhao Xintong’s triumph.
The final, played over 35 frames (first to 18), unfolded in four sessions. In the opening session, Wu started strong with three consecutive wins, but Murphy responded by taking four in a row. Wu ended the session with a 65 break to level at 4-4.
In the second session, Wu fired a 103 break to pull ahead 10-7. The third session saw Murphy win five straight frames (four with 50+ breaks), but Wu fought back with three consecutive wins (also with 50+ breaks) to lead 13-12 heading into the decisive session. Wu held his nerve in the final frames to secure the championship.
Wu’s path to the title was impressive: he beat Lei Peifan 10-2 in the first round, overcame four-time world champion Mark Selby 13-11, defeated Hossein Vafaei 13-8, and then rallied from 14-16 down to beat Mark Allen 17-16 in the semifinals, becoming the first post-2000 player to reach a World Championship final.
Born in October 2003 in Lanzhou, Gansu, Wu began playing snooker at age 7 under his father’s guidance. He later trained under Chinese champion Da Hailin and even played against Stephen Hendry in Lanzhou in 2012. In 2016, he moved to professional training and won the IBSF World Junior Snooker Championship in 2018. He relocated to Sheffield, England, in 2019.
Despite early struggles with language and finances, Wu’s determination never wavered. He won his first ranking title at the 2025 International Championship, beating John Higgins 10-6. After his World Championship victory, Wu said, “I’ve always dreamed of this title. No one wanted it more than me.”
Fellow Chinese stars Zhao Xintong and Ding Junhui congratulated Wu on social media. Ding wrote: “From Zhao Xintong to Wu Yize, Chinese players have stood on top of the snooker world for two consecutive years. This is more than a breakthrough—it’s the dawn of our era.”
(Credits: CCTV News, Five Star Sports, Beijing Youth Daily, etc.)