Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize live: Result and reaction from thrilling World Snooker Championship final

Wu Yize has been around the game since he was a child.

World Snooker has shared a picture of him alongside Stephen Hendry in 2012, just eight years old.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was so impressed with Wu Yize after recently practicing with the Chinese phenom.

His prediction has come to light early, with the 22-year-old storming to a maiden world title, the second youngest in history, behind Stephen Hendry.

“I think Wu Yize is going be the number one in the world in three years. He’ll be world champion very quickly,” O’Sullivan had said.

“He’s more like the old Steve Davis and has bigger potential.
I worked with him for 2-3 days. This boy is very special. He’s only 22.”

For the first time in 24 years, and just the fourth time in Crucible history, the World Snooker Championship final went to a deciding frame. It was a fitting climax to the 50th final at this iconic Sheffield theatre and after Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy had delivered a showpiece just as, if not more, compelling than any of the previous 49, it could hardly end any other way.

The decider itself may not have had the drama of the legendary black-ball finish of 1985 but as Wu held his nerve to complete an 85 break and become the second-youngest snooker world champion in history, the ‘Wuuuu’ chants that rang round this storied venue confirmed that the sport has a new star in the boy from Lanzhou.

At just 22 years and 202 days, Wu is a mere cub in sporting terms but he roared like a lion throughout a ding-dong battle with the 43-year-old Murphy, where the winner remained unclear until the very final moments.

Read Luke Baker’s full report from the Crucible:

Speaking on the BBC via an interpreter after his win, Wu Yize paid tribute to his parents.

“My parents are the true champions,” said Wu. “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.

On how he won: “I think it was the belief. I have been trying to go for this for ages. For the past few months, I have been living the same life. I am so happy that I could play well today.

On his fans and the ‘Wuuuu’ chant: “At the beginning I had a misunderstanding, I thought they were booing me. But then the staff told me they were cheering me on so I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for all your support, I think the love for snooker is mutual.”

The always gracious Shaun Murphy spoke to the BBC after his defeat and spoke very warmly of Wu Yize, saying he predicted he’d be world champion.

“I’d like to be the first to congratulate Wu Yize and his family, and everyone around him for being a wonderful world champion,” said Murphy.

“I hate being right, I said sometime earlier in the season, we had a great game out in China somewhere, and I managed to win that one.

“I came out afterwards and said that he would be world champion one day, it’s just a real shame that it was today, but I couldn’t have given it anymore, I couldn’t have tried harder. I played the best shots I could have played and I didn’t get my chance. I couldn’t do any more than that.”

Wu Yize hails from Lanzhou in the northwest of China, a city famous for its beef noodles. The dish is a clear beef broth with radish slices, chilli oil and herbs, and aside from his family, it is the thing he misses most: there are plenty of Chinese restaurants in Sheffield, but they don’t hit like home.

It is one small cost of being one of the best young snooker players in the world. Wu moved his life to Yorkshire three years ago to be part of the growing stable of Chinese players in the city, and he could be the next superstar from the group.

The 22-year-old reached finals at the English Open and Scottish Open last season, and now the 10th seed has made history by winning the World Snooker Championship for the first time. He showed incredible heart to down Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a first final-frame decider in the Crucible showpiece for 24 years.

What a remarkable victory for Wu Yize. Incredible scenes

WOW, WOW, WOW. What a final, what a match. Shaun Murphy with a warm handshake for Wu Yize.

A horrible way to lose but what a world champion. Wu is. Just 22 years old, the second youngest world champion in history.

And a second Chinese world champion

HE’S DONE IT! What a performance in this final frame, what a performance in this championship.

Wu Yize is a star. A break of 85 and he’s the 2026 World Snooker Championship winner.

Frame score: Murphy 8-85 Wu

Shaun Murphy needs snookers! Wu Yize is going to win the World Championship!

Another brilliant thin cut to the right corner. A fist pump – he knows! “Wuuuuu” chants from the crowd

Frame score: Murphy 8-69 Wu