Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has disclosed that Ronnie O'Sullivan accurately forecast Wu Yize's rise to snooker's summit long before the Chinese star's dramatic World Championship triumph. The 22-year-old defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, becoming the second-youngest world champion in history, behind only Hendry himself, who was 21 when he won his first title in 1990.
Hendry's Revelation
Writing on his Cue Tips blog, Hendry admitted he initially doubted Wu's readiness for the biggest stage. 'Being honest, I didn't think Wu was ready to win the World Championship,' the Scot wrote. 'I'd heard Ronnie O'Sullivan say he'd be world champion within three years and I didn't think that would happen.' Hendry confessed he considered Wu 'way behind Zhao Xintong' in terms of Crucible potential, but changed his mind after Wu eliminated Mark Selby in the second round. 'Selby was one of my favourites to win it,' Hendry explained.
Wu's Remarkable Rise
Wu's victory marks a meteoric ascent: barely six months ago, he won his first ranking title; now he is the world's top talent. O'Sullivan, 50, had previously identified Zhao Xintong's quality before his 2025 World Championship win, and his latest prophecy has proven equally accurate. Hendry noted Wu's fearless approach, saying, 'Some of the shots Wu was taking on, Selby couldn't believe. He was almost laughing in his chair. That's what I was most impressed by. He plays the game I played. He backs himself to pot anything at any stage, no matter what pressure is on.'
Hendry now believes both Wu and Zhao could 'dominate the game between them over the next few years' if current form persists. Wu's first priority after his win is to buy a new house in Sheffield to aid future title challenges, a testament to his focused mentality. While the result surprised many, including Hendry, O'Sullivan saw it coming all along.
