Star is born as Wu Yize beats Shaun Murphy in classic World Snooker Championship final

A match which began as the best of 35 frames eventually became best of five and then three as Murphy offered remarkable opposition to Wu, just as Mark Allen had done in that famous semi-final. The Chinese youngster had held a 10-7 lead overnight but Murphy won five straight frames as Wu in the afternoon session was overcome with nerves, anxiety and misjudgment. Wu’s long potting deserted him – his short potting was not much to write home about, either – alongside his dreams of world domination. Murphy took full advantage, winning five consecutive frames, and took a 12-10 lead.

With Wu’s composure capitulating, there looked to be only one winner. During the afternoon’s mid-session interval, Telegraph Sport spotted Wu darting out for a cigarette behind the Crucible and the nicotine’s nerve-easing properties did their trick. The favourite looked like a player reborn as he hit back with three successive frames of his own, which included a stunning long red in the 24th. It must be said, too, that Murphy took the conservative approach on a couple of colours after the interval, opting to play safe rather than pot, and it backfired. A revitalised Wu punished the Englishman.

The threat of further crowd disruption will not have done much to ease Wu’s anxiety. This has been one of the most explosive championships in history, with spectators ejected left, right and centre. Epstein protesters, OnlyFans models turned-BBC protesters, phone calls, alarms; you name it, it has caused a stir at this tournament. The interruptions became so severe that Rob Walker, the MC, challenged the audience to witness their neighbour switching off their phone before both Monday sessions.

It was the first time since 2014, where Mark Selby defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan to clinch his first title, that only a single frame separated the two players heading into the final session of the tournament. That did not last, however, as Wu recaptured the authoritative, crisp potting which returned for the final three frames of the afternoon session and which has been a trademark of his entire tournament. The Chinese youngster kicked off the evening session with a 88 break to clinch his fourth frame on the trot and take a two-frame advantage.

Shaun Murphy congratulates Wu Yize on his Crucible triumph - Darren Staples/Getty Images

Wu missed a simple red in the 29th but then cleaned up to take a one-frame lead into the evening’s mid-session interval. Both players traded sensational reds into the right corner in the 30th frame but Murphy, stunningly, managed to fight back from a 70-point deficit to level the scores at 15-15 and set up a dramatic denouement.

Three frames stood between both players and snooker history. Wu moved one frame clear after a 56 break, but Murphy roared back with a spectacular 131, the first century since the 10th. The exhibition pink and black to seal it was met with a thunderous reception by the Crucible crowd.

With the tension mounting, both players missed relatively innocuous reds but Wu got his nose back in front with the slenderest, silkiest of cuts on the yellow, only for Murphy to hold his nerve and reply and set up the final-frame decider. From there, Wu seized the initiative, and the most staggering of sporting stories took yet another twist. A snooker star is born.

10:51pm

Wu lifts the trophy

Wu Yize lifts the trophy, and poses for photos amid the glitter.

The 22-year-old played brilliantly, rode his luck, and took his chances. There should be plenty more to come from him over the next decade. Perhaps more.

Thank you for reading tonight.

10:49pm

‘My parents are the true champions’

Wu Yize pays tribute to his parents, saying: “For the past month I have been living the same life. I’m so happy I could play today.

“My parents are the true champions. Since I made the decision to take up the sport, my dad has been by my side. My mum has also been through a lot over the years.

“They are the source of my strength. I love them so much.”

Asked about the popular “Wu” chants, he adds: “At the beginning I had a misunderstanding. I thought people were booing me. Then the staff told me they were cheering me on, so I can’t thank you all enough.”

10:41pm

‘I can’t do any more’

Murphy rues his prediction that Wu would one day be world champion.

He says after his defeat: “It’s been an excellent couple of weeks for me and my team. It’s been a wonderful time here in Sheffield. We’ve had an amazing time, great performances and we’ve had a lot of laughs. Jeez, we were close. We were very, very close. I’d like to be the first to congratulate Wu Yize.

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

“I came out afterwards and said he will be a world champion one day. It’s just a shame it was today. I couldn’t have given any more, I couldn’t have tired  any harder.

“I played the best shots I could play where the balls finished. I didn’t get my chance. I can’t do any more.”

10:37pm

Wu wins fantastic final

Wu Yize went toe-to-toe with Shaun Murphy in one of the very best finals at the Crucible Theatre.

Both players demonstrated outstanding technique, plenty of bravery, and no small amount of nerves in the final session on Sunday.

For 22-year-old Wu, he won by virtue of being the more ruthless of the pair. He started the final session in front, and while Murphy stayed in touch, at no point was he able to get his nose in front.

The former champion has now gone four world championship finals without a win after his 2005 success. He may not get another.

As for Wu, if this is his only final appearance, it would be a huge shock given his talent and potential.

10:33pm Key moments

Frame 35: Murphy 8 Wu 85

Wu is the world champion!

Murphy pots an early red and then hides behind the green. Wu needs to escape off for cushions, and he does so superbly, nestling into the pack. However, he’s left a red on for Murphy. He takes it to the middle-right pocket, and then plays another safety.

Wu responds with a great effort of his own, bringing an acknowledgement from Murphy. He’s behind both the yellow and green, but he escapes quite neatly, and the crowd applauds.

Wu appears to sell his response short, but it rolls just in front of yellow and green, requiring a hugely difficult bridge.

Wu gets back in quickly and he now has an excellent chance to build a break.

At 33-8 up, a poor shot leaves Wu needing a rest to take on a red, and he adroitly guides the ball into the bottom-right pocket. He pots the pink. If not for nerves, this would now be easy.

At 61-8, Murphy needs snookers, and after another red and a pink, the game is beyond the former champion.

Wu starts celebrating as he attempts a clearance with a century still on. He has 85, but misses the brown. It makes no difference. The crowd break into chants of “Wu” as he becomes the champion aged just 22.

Frame 35 (best of 35): Murphy 17 Wu 18

10:12pm

‘What a finale’

The first final-frame decider at the Crucible since 2002. What a finale we have in store. Will Wu come to rue that missed black off the spot?

10:09pm Key moments

Frame 34: Murphy 74 Wu 43

Wu opens the scoring and takes 14 points, and cuts finely to the bottom-left with another red. He takes the green next to get back down the table, and this looks like a potential championship-winning opening.

At 43 up, Wu plays for the plant off the black, but he misses! Murphy can take on the plant, and he does so, opening the reds in the process.

He adeptly clears all but the pink, and we’re down to a one-frame shootout. The fourth in history.

Frame 34 (best of 35): Murphy 17 Wu 17

09:54pm Key moments

Frame 33: Murphy 45 Wu 91

Murphy kicks off with a wonderful long pot. The pink is on to the middle, and in it goes. He continues the break and as he clatters into the reds, he gets some decent options at 39-0 up.

He’s 45-0 clear but misses what is a usually easy red, with the nerves taking hold. Wu misses too, presumably for the same reason. The tension is evident.

Wu the player who finally gets control of their potting again and starts a break of his own, with the frame well within his grasp. Trailing by one, he may need all the reds, three blacks, and the yellow, followed by the green.

Wu takes on the yellow. A hugely tight cut at close range, with the rest. He pulls it off, bringing huge appreciation from the crowd. He is 21 ahead with 25 remaining, and potting the green tips the balance in his favour, and he completes a break of 91 with the black.

One from victory.

Frame 33 (best of 35): Murphy 16 Wu 17

That is the silkiest, most audacious of cuts on the yellow from Wu and in this tense finale he moves one frame away from becoming the second youngest world champion of all time.

09:33pm Opinion • Key moments

Frame 32: Murphy 131 Wu 1

Wu misses a long pot, and flukes another. While it’s a stroke of fortune, it does not leave him with much on except a difficult black. He plays a fairly loose snooker behind it.

Murphy responds with his own long pot, and ends up on the black. He cuts in a fine black after some awkward positioning to go 36-0 up, and just squeezes in a red cut to the middle pocket before getting back onto the black. He looks comfortable here, but nerves make that far from guaranteed.

Throughout the frame, Murphy had assiduously opened up the reds and a clearance could now be on as a result.

He reaches his century with just the colours to go, and he completes a 131 break with a double on the black to finish.

Frame 32 (best of 35): Murphy 16 Wu 16

And Murphy hits back with the first century break since the 10th frame of this match, clinching the 131 with an exhibition-style doubled black. We are going from best of five down to best of three. What drama.

09:18pm Key moments

Frame 31: Murphy 0 Wu 65

Wu kicks off the 31st frame with a great long pot, but it gives him nothing to go for, so he sends the white back up the table.

He is given a chance for another break, and splits the reds with a powerful pot. He was a touch lucky to get onto the yellow, but everything is spread out invitingly here.

Wu ends his break 57-0 up, but Murphy plays a decent safety to keep the frame going. However, Wu takes on a long red pot, sinks it, and leaves the black safe. Murphy needs 58 from 59, with the black in the top left, covered off by the brown.

Murphy attempts to bring the black into play but instead leaves a red over the pocket, and Wu takes it without any hassle, and gets over the line.

Frame 31 (best of 35): Murphy 15 Wu 16

08:58pm Key moments • Video

Frame 30: Murphy 73 Wu 70

Wu starts the session with an outstanding long red to the bottom-right corner, and then sinks the black.

Wu moves to 70 clear but Murphy is given a chance to develop a break with a long red. He sinks a black, and then cannons into the bunched reds, but gets little help. The break stops at eight as he tries to send the cue ball safe.

Wu leaves a red ball open to the middle pocket. Murphy comes to the table, needing a clearance to win this. He shows absolutely astounding nerves to get to the remaining three colours. He takes the pink. The pressure is now all on the black. And he pots it! It’s 15-15.

Frame 30 (best of 35): Murphy 15 Wu 15

08:41pm

Frame 30: Murphy 0 Wu 0

The pair are back at the table after the interval.

08:28pm

‘Wu is off for a cigarette’

The ebb and flow of this final. Murphy will be kicking himself that he did not free up those reds but Wu, after earlier missing a simple red, punished the Englishman ruthlessly. Murphy had just hauled himself back into it with back-to-back frames but Wu now his nose is back in front again. Only three frames stand between the Chinese youngster and history.

Oh, and it is the mid-session interval, so Wu is off for a cigarette.

08:22pm

Frame 29: Murphy 56 Wu 60

Murphy pots one red but has to retreat, and Wu then fails to keep the cue ball safe. An impressive red from Murphy gives him a real chance, and there are plenty of reds on offer to keep building, but a miss on a pink to the middle leaves him sitting down 34-0 ahead.

After adding 19, Wu misses an easy pot on a red, and it seems both players are making some edgy mistakes.

Murphy edges 37 clear in his next visit, and the frame is still in play as Wu comes to the table. There is a long red on offer, but Wu plays it safe, leaving the cue ball close to the reds. Murphy attempts to pot one of them into the top-right pocket, but his aim is an inch off, and Wu could take it on here. He does so, successfully, and screws it back to set up a potential frame-winning break.

Wu clears the table to steal the frame, and he goes into the interval leading by a single frame.

Frame 29 (best of 35): Murphy 14 Wu 15

07:58pm Key moments • Video

Frame 28: Murphy 75 Wu 26

At 26-0 up, Yize looks poised to strike back quickly, but he rattles the jaws with a red, and Murphy now has the chance to level up.

Murphy breaks open the reds but there isn’t a great deal on, so he pots a red and moves towards the other end of the table. After potting the brown, he now has more options, and he ends with a break of 43, and leaves the cue high up the table.

A missed long red from Wu gives Murphy the chance to win the frame. There are a couple of tricky reds up on the right side, though. At least one of those will need to be dealt with.

Murphy gets in behind one and deals with it calmly, and then pots the black, which should be enough at 75-26. Wu turns down the chance to take on a red that Murphy leaves from a missed double.

Frame 28 (best of 35): Murphy 14 Wu 14

07:43pm

‘Strap yourselves in’

Strap yourselves in, folks. The atmosphere in the Crucible is electric this evening, and with both players winning frames, this really could go the distance.

07:42pm

Frame 27: Murphy 82 Wu 0

After an extended bout of safety play, Murphy sinks the first red of the 27th frame. The reds are fairly well spaced out, but after potting a black he’s struggling for options, but sinks a relatively tough red.

Murphy makes use of the lower-value colours to continue his break, and while more points are always handy, the extended period at the table should help him out.

A century break comes into view for Murphy after he lands on the pink and black colours to ramp up the scoring, which would remind Yize that he is up against a more-than-able opponent, but he misses a red with a rest to end his break at 82.

Frame 27 (best of 35): Murphy 13 Wu 14

07:23pm

Frame 26: Murphy 1 Wu 81

Murphy gives Yize an early poser when he hides the cue ball behind the white after potting an early red. There’s an early period of safety play now.

A mistake from Murphy leaves a red on, which Yize snaffles.

From there, Yize begins a fluid break without much hesitation between shots. Murphy can only look on as this frame runs away from him. Murphy has scored seven points in the last four frames, so regardless of his form, he’s out of contention right now because he isn’t getting time at the table.

A double takes him to 82, bringing cheers from the crowd, and then a ridiculous pink, into the middle and then off the cushions to reach the red, ends his break when the red is crudely missed. Yize is on fire. Four frames in a row. Four frames from victory.

Frame 26 (best of 35): Murphy 12 Wu 14

07:08pm

The players appear

Both players walk on to cheers, and in Yize’s case, some “Wu’s”.

07:04pm Video

Yize’s great escape

A brilliant shot from Yize in the earlier session, here.

We are minutes away from the restart.

06:42pm

Yize’s 13th frame

Here is how the first session ended.

Murphy was on the back foot towards the end of the session, so he may redouble his attacking play early on tonight.

06:42pm

We’re back

The players will soon be back in action at the Crucible Theatre.

After 25 frames, this is as tight as it could get at this stage.

Murphy burst into impressive form in the first half of the session this afternoon, but Yize rallied spectacularly after looking close to broken.

Both men are capable of winning from here, but few will be surprised if this goes the distance.

04:25pm Opinion • Key moments

Yize edges back in front

Shaun Murphy did everything right initially, but when Yize rediscovered his best form, there was little he could do to hold onto his lead.

The young challenger sparked into life off a long red pot, and started playing as he had done on Saturday evening, and after falling 12-10 behind, he won three consecutive frames to go in ahead with the final session still to come.

It is impossible to predict how this goes, but it’s been an absorbing final day so far. Coverage will restart for the 7pm evening session.

Yize has rallied with such resilience here and steadied his ship. A 5-3 loss in the session but the three consecutive frames he won - after Murphy had won five successive of his own - means he has the momentum heading into tonight’s finale - and, crucially, a slender lead. Incidentally, tonight will be the first time that there is one frame between the players in the final session of a final since Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan’s meeting in 2014. There might even be further twists ahead.

04:21pm

Frame 25: Murphy 5 Yize 121

At 28-5 up in the final frame of the session, Yize has a comfortable set up of reds, with the pink on the black spot.

He moves 61-5 clear before playing for safety, leaving Murphy with plenty to do to save this frame.

Yize comes back to the table almost straight away, and continues where he left off, rattling in the balls smoothly, and removing obstacle reds from his path.

The 22-year-old clears the table, and nudges back in front. He will be relieved, but concerned at letting his early advantage slip.

Frame 25 (best of 35): Murphy 12 Yize 13

04:03pm

Frame 24: Murphy 1 Yize 73

Yize opens the scoring in the 24th frame with a great long red, and then a decent brown sets him up for an early break that could be of size. However, it ends with him 23-0 up after some poor positional play forces him to leave the cue ball safe. Murphy has the chance to pot a long red, and then plays it safe himself.

However, Yize returns and races away. With the frame won, he misses a relatively easy black, but he will not mind. He is level at last. One more frame to go in this session.

Frame 24 (best of 35): Murphy 12 Yize 12

03:39pm

Frame 23: Murphy 0 Yize 93

Yize goes 29-0 clear then plays safe, and Murphy then misses a long red. Yize returns to pot, and should win the frame from here.

He reaches 93 with a calm display, and some “Wu’s” are heard from the crowd as they celebrate his achievement. Another frame here and he will be level.

Frame 23 (best of 35): Murphy 12 Yize 11

03:22pm Key moments

Frame 22: Murphy 67 Yize 37

At 7-0 up, Murphy puts a lot of side on an attempted pot on the blue. It fires off the jaws, and this could give Yize his best break of the day.

A fluke for Yize as he pots a red brings the black into play, and things teed up nicely for him to win the frame from here. After scoring 37, he rattles the jaw on a simple black.

Murphy goes 40-37 ahead with a back that wobbles on its way down, and he cuts in the last remaining red. It looks like a standard clearance now on the colours. He goes 67-37 up, and walks away with the black remaining. He is in control.

Frame 22 (best of 35): Murphy 12 Yize 10

03:17pm

Keeping tabs

Another humorous tale emerging from the Crucible. After a session to forget, Dennis Taylor on BBC commentary said that Wu Yize would be straight at the practice table during the interval. Sorry, Dennis, but I have news for you: Yize, instead, disappeared straight out the back of the venue to puff on a load of cigarettes. Let’s see if that eases the second-half nerves...

03:06pm

Two players back at the table

Both Murphy and Yize are back to restart play.

02:47pm

Frame 21: Murphy 11 Yize 10

Yize’s long pot is met with some bad luck, and there is nowhere for him to go but back up the table for safety. Murphy is back on the table in short order, and begins to build his break. The reds and the pink are favourably placed, for now.

Murphy rolls in the pink to go 63 ahead with 59 remaining on the table, and then leaves the cue ball relatively safe after running out of options.

Yize’s response allows Murphy back in immediately, and the Englishman rattles off enough of the remainder, sinking the last red with a deft, pressure-free cut. He clears the colours and moves ahead on the scores, with the players leaving for the mid-session interval.

Frame 21 (best of 35): Murphy 11 Yize 10

02:28pm Key moments • Video

Murphy draws level

Murphy will feel relieved, and maybe even confident.

He has taken each of the first three frames of the day and drawn level. His aggression is paying off, while for Yize, his attempts at courage have mainly ended in misses.

We will see if the 22-year-old will continue to wilt, and if the more experienced man will put the pressure on for the rest of the session.

02:27pm Opinion

Frame 20: Murphy 62 Yize 13

Some middling play from both sees Murphy  miss into the bottom corner, 13-10 behind. Yize misses his own pot, and both players are searching for a way back into the frame with most of the reds bunched, and too close to the left-hand cushion.

Murphy makes the first error of this passage of play and leaves a red onto the bottom left. Yize, straining over the table, misses. He looks a shell of the player who dominated last night.

Murphy moves 25-13 ahead, sinking a tough brown while opening up some of those stubborn reds.

He picks up all of the remaining reds except for the one left against the cushion. An attempted double fails, but Yize concedes and Murphy draws level.

In the blink of an eye, we are level. What a start for Shaun Murphy, who has won all three frames today. Serious questions surround Wu Yize’s temperament here; with the score now 10-10, we are about to see what the under-pressure 22-year-old is made of.

Frame 20 (best of 35): Murphy 10 Yize 10

02:04pm

Frame 19: Murphy 76 Yize 9

Yize may settle his nerves with a long red to open the scoring in the 19th frame, but his break peters out at five. Murphy pots the cue ball, but Yize is struggling to pot today, and the former champion comes to the table to build a break. His 76 is enough to take the frame, his second in a row today.

Wu Yize’s long potting has completely collapsed. We are not far off full meltdown territory here…

Frame 19 (best of 35): Murphy 9 Yize 10

01:47pm

‘A tense, nervy start’

A tense, nervy start to the day - especially for the favourite, Wu Yize, who needs to quickly regather his composure. An amusing detail emerging here, too, is that MC Rob Walker forced every audience member to show their neighbour that their phone was off before play began. The tournament has been dogged by interruptions - protests or otherwise - and several phones went off on Sunday.

01:44pm

Frame 18: Murphy 103 Yize 37

Yize makes the early running in the day’s first session. Murphy comes to the table and takes the easy reds, using the pink and black to maximise his break

He pots one red and develops another well, which was the only truly problematic one. He is aided by the position of the blue in the top left, but overhits the pot and loses position at 39-37 up.

A mistake in a period of safety play  from Yize gives Murphy a chance to hide behind the green, but he gets touch on the black and leaves a long pot on. Yize misses, but gives Murphy a snooker on both reds.

Murphy pots one red and then ends his break and leaves Yize in trouble. He strikes the black off the cushion for a foul, and after being put back in by Murphy, he escapes well and gives Murphy a challenge too. This red could be cut into the top right, but he misses by a long way.

Yize is put in play again, behind the pink with the red obscured. Two fouls become three, and after six, Murphy has a free ball, but is content to put Yize back in as he trails 72-37. Yize finally touches the red. Another foul would have left him needing snookers.

Murphy is able to cut in a red, pots the green, and follows it up with the yellow on the rest before taking on the green and then the brown, and clears the table.

Frame 18 (best of 35): Murphy 8 Yize 10

01:30pm Opinion

‘Far from a vintage start’

Far from a vintage start to today’s proceedings, with Wu missing an albeit difficult red by a significant margin. Just when Murphy looked to be in control at the table, he missed a straightforward black. Nervy; a gift for Yize who is now the favourite for this first frame of the day.

01:12pm

Frame 18: Murphy 0 Yize 0

The session gets underway.

Frame 18 (best of 35): Murphy 7 Yize 10

12:52pm Opinion

‘All eyes here will be on how Murphy starts’

The final day of a captivating, controversial World Snooker Championship is nigh. Wu Yize, the 22-year-old Lanzhou-born Sheffield local, needs eight frames to become the second youngest winner of this famous tournament, behind Stephen Hendry in 1990. Shaun Murphy stands in Yize’s way but the Englishman must overturn an overnight three-frame deficit. All eyes here will be on how Murphy starts - he cannot let this session get away from him - but also on crowd behaviour after a series of interruptions and protests over the past week.

12:49pm

Pressure on Murphy and Yize

For Murphy, the pressure is on because at 43, this could very well be his last chance to win another World Championship.

The younger generation are coming through, and with three losses in finals after his win, he may now feel it’s his final opportunity to do the double. That could lead to him making some risky shots. If they do not come off, then Yize has shown he can exploit mistakes.

For the Chinese player, he has never come this close to a major trophy. He appears in excellent form, but has betrayed nerves on more than one occasion here. As success appears on the horizon, he could start to feel the strain.

12:36pm

Yize’s aggression

Wu Yize grew in confidence after the first session. The 22-year-old started to dominate by sinking reds and taking on colours that other players might shy away from.

12:20pm Video

Murphy’s shot of the night

An outstanding plant from Murphy last night demonstrated that he could still find what is needed to challenge this afternoon.

12:10pm Key moments

Yize leads Murphy in battle for title

Welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the last two sessions of the World Snooker Championship.

Wu Yize is just eight frames away from winning his first Triple Crown event, aged 22. Should he win, it would be the first time that the World Championship has been won by Chinese entrants two years in a row, after Zhao Xintong lifted the trophy in 2025.

Shaun Murphy meanwhile needs 13 frames if he is to win. A victory at the Crucible Theatre would be his second World Championship triumph, 21 years after his maiden win back in 2005. Since then, he has been a beaten finalist three times over the course of his career so far. A fourth would be a heavy blow for the 2025 Masters winner.

On Sunday, Yize and Murphy started the game betraying nerves, fatigue, or a mixture of both, after more than two weeks of high-pressure, exacting snooker. The two made the occasional unexpected error on simple pots, and for Yize in particular, his tactical game often came up short despite being in a winning position.

However, as the match progressed, the younger man displayed more aggression and technical aptitude than Murphy, and he started to pull away in the evening to earn an overnight lead.

It is just three frames, and in snooker that deficit can be reduced in short order should a player find his best form, but it could be decisive if the players both compete at a similar level today.

Play starts for the first session today at 1pm, with the second session scheduled for 8pm. Yize starts the day as the favourite, but the final is far from over.

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