Wu Yize lifted the World Snooker Championship trophy at the Crucible after an 18-17 victory over Shaun Murphy in the first deciding frame of a world final for 24 years. The 22-year-old becomes the second-youngest world champion in history and only the second from China.
In his post-match interview, an emotional Wu dedicated the win to his parents, revealing his mother's long-term health struggles. He said: 'My mum wasn't in very good health condition for a long time. During that time we were in Sheffield, she has been in hospital a lot. She sacrificed everything for me.' Wu added that his mother is now feeling much better.
Wu and his father moved from Lanzhou to Sheffield when he was a teenager, with his father quitting his job. They lived in a tiny windowless room, sharing a bed, while Wu spoke little English. Homesickness and financial strain were intense; Wu's prize money barely covered bills and food.
Despite the difficulties, Wu never considered giving up. 'If you really love snooker it is the path you have to go through and fight through,' he said. His childhood coach, Roger Leighton, recalled Wu's work ethic: after hitting an 86 break, Wu said it was 'no good, because Ronnie [O'Sullivan] would have cleared up'.
The world title lifts Wu to number four in the world rankings and earns him £500,000, ending his money troubles. His mother attended the final, only her second visit to the UK, and Wu vowed to take her to more tournaments.
