Three-time world champion Mark Williams has dismissed Steve Davis' assertion that Wu Yize's Crucible victory could fundamentally alter the way snooker is played. The 22-year-old Chinese player defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling final on Sunday, becoming the second-youngest winner of the World Championship title and the first final-frame decider since 2002.
Wu's Bold Style
Wu captivated the audience with his fearless approach, attempting risky long pots and occasionally switching to left-handed play. His aggressive style prompted six-time world champion Steve Davis to predict a shift in the sport. "The game is changing, shot selection is changing," Davis remarked on the BBC. "The modern-day players coming through have got to copy this. You can't win playing safe."
However, Williams was unconvinced. Responding on social media platform X, the Welshman posted six crying-laughing emojis, adding that he was "listening to waffle all night." Williams, who won world titles in 2000, 2003, and 2018, reached the quarter-finals in Sheffield before losing 13-9 to Barry Hawkins.
Davis Doubles Down
Despite Williams' skepticism, Davis reiterated his stance. "The likes of Wu Yize are changing the face of snooker to make it much more aggressive," he said. "The style they are playing is the benchmark for European and British players to come."
Wu's victory earned him £500,000 and propelled him to fourth in the world rankings. He has been mentored by Ronnie O'Sullivan, whose ultra-aggressive style is evident in Wu's play.
Murphy's Praise
Defeated finalist Murphy was full of praise for his opponent. "I hate being right—I said sometime earlier in the season when we had a great game out in China somewhere, I won that one but I came out afterwards and said that he would be world champion one day," Murphy told Hazel Irvine. "It's just a real shame that it was today, but I couldn't have given it any more, 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 himself expressed his joy: "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."
