Sheffield, May 5: Wu Yize has made history by defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in one of the most thrilling finals of the World Snooker Championship, securing his first title. At just 22 years and 202 days old, Wu becomes the second youngest world champion, following Stephen Hendry, who won the title at 21 in 1990. Wu is now the 25th player to win the prestigious silverware at the Crucible and the first to achieve this as a maiden winner for four consecutive years. He ranks first among players who won consecutively after Luca Brecel (28), Kyren Wilson (32), and Zhao (28) in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively.
This victory marks Wu’s second title, elevating him from tenth to fourth in the world rankings. Prior to this year, he had never won a match at the Crucible, having lost in the first round in both 2023 and 2025.
Wu’s journey to the final included victories over Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, and Hossein Vafaei, culminating in a semi-final win against Mark Allen with a nail-biting score of 17-16. The final was a spectacular showdown featuring three century breaks, over 29 breaks of 50 or more, and an average frame time of just 17 minutes, as both players adopted aggressive strategies. Wu’s decisive potting was evident in the crucial frame, where he executed a challenging red shot, followed by a stunning break of 85, clinching the trophy along with a prize of £500,000.
After his victory, Wu expressed his joy, stating, “I am very happy to have played like this. I played for my family, for myself, and for China. My parents are the real champions. Since I decided to leave school, my father has been with me. My mother has also endured a lot over the years. They are my source of strength. I love them very much.” He also thanked the fans, saying, “I can’t thank the fans enough. Supporting anyone, the love for snooker is mutual.”
Murphy had hoped to become the seventh player to win multiple titles and set a new record for the longest gap between his first and second crowns since winning his first trophy in 2005. He remains with 13 ranking titles out of 30 finals. His runner-up finish has moved him up from eighth to fifth in the world rankings. Murphy commented, “It was a fantastic match. It had everything. Wu is one of the most talented players I have ever seen. I played with him in China this season. After the match, I said he would become a world champion. I am happy for him, but my heart is broken for myself.”
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.