Wu Yize, the 22-year-old snooker sensation from Lanzhou in northwest China, has stormed into his first World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre. He will face 2005 champion Shaun Murphy after a dramatic semi-final victory over Mark Allen. Known for his city's famous beef noodles, Wu misses the authentic taste of home, as Sheffield's Chinese restaurants cannot replicate the dish his family makes. This is a small sacrifice for a player who moved to Yorkshire three years ago to join the growing contingent of Chinese snooker talent in the city.
Early Life and Rise
Wu began playing snooker as soon as he could hold a cue. His mother ran the family antiques business while his father dedicated time to accompany him to tournaments. At age 11, his father took him to the Yushan International Billiards Academy, where Australian coach Roger Leighton first saw him. 'When he came to me, his highest break was 49,' Leighton recalls. 'After a couple of weeks, he hit an 86. I said, “That’s great, amazing.” He said, “It’s no good, because Ronnie would have cleared up.” That’s his mentality.'
Despite his talent, Wu had technical flaws. His arm would drop during his takeaway, and his wrist moved as he pushed the cue through. 'He had a few big problems with consistency,' Leighton says. 'He would miss too many easy balls.' But Wu improved rapidly, winning the Under-21 World Championship at just 14. At 15, he pushed John Higgins to a deciding frame at the 2019 International Championship, eventually losing 6-5. He turned professional at 17 and made his Crucible debut at 19. His first ranking title came at last year's International Championship, where he beat Higgins in the final.
Breakthrough Performances
Wu delivered a stunning display in Nanjing, scoring 14 centuries in 63 frames in front of his parents. He came from 4-0 down against world No. 1 Judd Trump to win six consecutive frames, then whitewashed Barry Hawkins 6-0 before defeating world champion Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals. After the final, Higgins paid Wu a huge compliment: 'He reminds me so much of the late, great Paul Hunter, the way he plays the game. He’s a new superstar.' Asked about the comparison, Wu smiled: 'Paul Hunter was a really good-looking guy.'
Praise from Legends
Shaun Murphy tipped Wu to be a future world champion, and Ronnie O'Sullivan likened him to a 'more dynamic' version of Steve Davis. 'I practised with him for two or three days in Hong Kong,' O'Sullivan said. 'It’s not until you practise with someone that you can really appreciate how good they are. After day two, I was like, “This kid is really special.”' Leighton agrees: 'I think he could be world champion in three to five years, and definitely world No. 1. He punishes mistakes, he scores well.'
Leighton also highlights Wu's mental strength: 'He has a special mentality, to be able to do it under pressure. He feels nerves, but it’s a different mentality; it’s a cultural thing, built into [Chinese players].'
Family Support and Road to the Final
Wu's family remains a constant support. When he struggled with a damaged tip during his Masters debut in January, his father flew from Lanzhou to Alexandra Palace to help fix it. 'My parents are everything,' Wu said. 'My dad has been with me since I was a kid, always by my side.' Now the youngest player in the world's top 16, Wu's run to the Crucible final includes wins over Mark Selby, Hossein Vafaei, and Mark Allen. The final against Shaun Murphy is his greatest test yet, but Wu has already beaten many top players, and Murphy will not relish facing one of the game's rising talents in his adopted hometown.
