Wu Yize wins World Snooker Championship at 22, second-youngest ever champion
Synopsis
At 22, Wu Yize has rewritten snooker's age record — now second only to Stephen Hendry among world champions. His 18-17 victory over Murphy in a deciding frame was pure theatre: a difficult red, a break of 85, and a jump from 10th to 4th in the rankings. China's snooker dominance — two champions in consecutive years — signals a generational shift in the sport.
Key Takeaways
Wu Yize , age 22 years and 202 days , won the World Snooker Championship on 5 May .
He defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in the final at the Crucible in Sheffield .
Wu is the second-youngest world champion ever, behind Stephen Hendry (age 21 in 1990 ).
He rose from 10th to 4th in the world rankings and compiled a decisive break of 85 in the final frame.
He is the second consecutive Chinese winner, following Zhao Xintong in 2025 .
Murphy earned £200,000 as runner-up and moved from 8th to 5th in the world rankings.
Wu Yize captured the World Snooker Championship title at age 22 years and 202 days on 5 May, defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling final at the Crucible in Sheffield. The Chinese prodigy became the second-youngest world champion in snooker history, behind only Stephen Hendry, who won at age 21 in 1990, and the second consecutive Chinese winner following Zhao Xintong's triumph in 2025.
A dominant run to the crown
Wu entered the tournament ranked tenth in the world and had never won a match at the Crucible before this year, having lost in the first round in both 2023 and 2025. His path to the final showcased his rapid maturation: he defeated Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, and Hossein Vafaei before edging Mark Allen 17-16 in a semi-final thriller. The victory propelled him from tenth to fourth in the world rankings.
A final for the ages
The championship match was a masterclass in attacking snooker. Both players compiled three centuries and 29 breaks over 50 points, with frames averaging just 17 minutes. The decisive frame — the first deciding frame at the Crucible since 2002 — proved decisive: Wu executed a difficult red to centre, then compiled a stunning break of 85 to secure the trophy and the £500,000 top prize.
Wu's emotional victory
Wu credited his family for his success, saying he played
Point of View
He is only the second-youngest champion ever and the second consecutive Chinese winner — a dominance that reflects both talent development in China and a shifting global talent pool in cue sports. What is striking is not just his age but his trajectory: a player who had never won at the Crucible before this year, now 4th in the world. Murphy's near-miss — his fourth Sheffield final loss — underscores that experience no longer guarantees titles in a sport where youth and fearlessness are increasingly decisive.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Wu Yize and what did he accomplish?
Wu Yize is a 22 -year-old Chinese snooker player who won the World Snooker Championship on 5 May , defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in the final. He became the second-youngest world champion in history and the second consecutive Chinese winner.
How old was Wu Yize when he won the World Championship?
Wu Yize was 22 years and 202 days old when he won, making him the second-youngest world champion ever. Only Stephen Hendry , who won at age 21 in 1990 , was younger.
What was the final score and where was it played?
Wu Yize defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in the final at the Crucible in Sheffield on 5 May . The match went to a deciding frame, the first at the Crucible since 2002 .
How did Wu Yize perform in previous Crucible appearances?
Wu Yize had never won a match at the Crucible before this year, losing in the first round in both 2023 and 2025 . His breakthrough this year elevated him from 10th to 4th in the world rankings.
What happened to Shaun Murphy's title hopes?
Murphy lost 18-17 in the final, his fourth Sheffield final defeat. He earned the £200,000 runner-up prize and moved from 8th to 5th in the world rankings. He had not won the championship since 2005 .
