Wu Yize becomes world champion with dramatic win over Shaun Murphy

Wu Yize announced himself on snooker's biggest stage, edging Shaun Murphy 18-17 to win the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on Monday.

The 22-year-old held his nerve in a gripping final that went the distance, sealing the title in a deciding frame to become the second Chinese player to lift the sport's most prestigious trophy after Zhao Xintong.

Wu's breakthrough comes just a year after Zhao's historic triumph, a moment the young cueist himself has cited as a turning point.

"(Zhao's success) definitely made me believe in myself more because he made history," Wu said.

Long regarded as one of the game's brightest prospects, Wu has drawn praise from across the sport. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan earlier this year described him as a "phenomenal player" and tipped him to reach World No. 1 within three years.

In China, Wu is affectionately known as "Little Wu" – a nod both to a former hairstyle and to the calm, composed demeanor he brings to the table under pressure.

From Lanzhou to the Crucible

Born in Lanzhou in northwest China, Wu's journey to the top has been defined by sacrifice and persistence.

Introduced to snooker at the age of seven by his father, he quickly showed promise. By 11, he had moved to Yushan in east China's Jiangxi province to train at the International Billiards Academy, a hub for developing Chinese talent.

At 16, Wu took a decisive step, relocating to Sheffield – the spiritual home of snooker – to pursue his career. The transition was far from easy. Facing a new language, culture and lifestyle, he and his father lived modestly, sharing a small flat as they committed fully to his development.

Those early struggles shaped the resilience now evident in his game.

Wu turned professional in 2021 and steadily climbed the ranks, reaching the last 32 of the UK Championship that year. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2022 and reached his first ranking final in 2024.

His first title followed at the International Championship, where he defeated top names including Zhao, Judd Trump and John Higgins.

A champion under pressure

Wu's victory at the Crucible marks the culmination of that steady rise – and a defining moment for both player and country.

Despite joining Zhao as a world champion, Wu has remained closely tied to his roots. He has opened a snooker hall in Lanzhou and continues to support young players coming through.

The pressures of the professional circuit have been a constant companion along the way.

"In the beginning there was not a lot of prize money," Wu said previously. "So there was definitely a lot of pressure… and a lot for myself to improve."

That pressure was never greater than in the final frame at the Crucible – and Wu delivered.

From a young player leaving home in search of opportunity to a world champion on snooker's grandest stage, Wu's rise now stands as one of the sport's most compelling new stories.