At just 22 years old, Wu Yize is the world champion and added a third ranking title to his collection on Sunday, achievements that are putting him on course to join snooker’s greats. Wu beat the likes of Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump last week on his way to the Shenzhen Open final where he downed Yuan Sijun 10-5 to get his hands on the trophy.
Rising to world number two
The Lanzhou Lion is up to world number two and is within touching distance of compatriot Zhao Xintong at the top of the rankings, thanks to his wins in Sheffield, Shenzhen and at last season’s International Championship. Wu turns 23 next week and has achieved more than most manage in an entire career. He already has more ranking titles than iconic players like Cliff Thorburn, Dennis Taylor, Terry Griffiths and Joe Johnson.
But how do his wins before his 23rd birthday compare to the absolute biggest names in the game’s history? Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry’s early achievements remain a long way in front of Wu’s and anyone else’s in snooker.
Comparing with the legends
The Scot became the youngest world champion in 1990 at 21 years and 106 days and, remarkably, that was his sixth ranking title. He won six more ranking titles before he turned 23 and had racked up three Masters titles as well. Hendry seemed close to unstoppable as a young man.
41-time ranking event winner Ronnie O’Sullivan, unsurprisingly, was also dynamite before he was 23 although had not won the World Championship at that age. He did, though, become the youngest ranking event winner by landing the 1993 UK Championship at just 17, beating Hendry in the final no less, and still holding that record today. The Rocket had won six ranking titles and the Masters before he turned 23, so while he hadn’t conquered the Crucible, you would probably give him the edge on Wu at that age.
John Higgins had won the World Championship before his 23rd birthday, just two weeks before it in fact, when he beat Ken Doherty in the Sheffield final in 1998. That was the Wizard of Wishaw’s ninth ranking title, having beaten the likes of Hendry, O’Sullivan and Steve Davis in big finals before becoming world champion.
So Wu is definitely not quite in the same bracket as arguably the best three players ever, but that is hardly a criticism. His achievements at 22 do stack up with or outstrip anyone else in snooker history, though.
Similar CVs and future prospects
Boasting similar CVs to Wu at his age were Mark Williams and Ding Junhui. The Welshman had won three ranking titles and the Masters at 22, but not the World Championship. Chinese legend Ding Junhui had racked up four ranking titles, two of which were the UK Championship, before he turned 23.
Judd Trump landed the UK Championship and China Open before he was 23 and reached a World Championship final but was beaten by John Higgins at the Crucible. Alex Higgins deserves a mention having won the 1972 World Championship at just 22 years old, but it is really tough to judge his other achievements in the early 70s compared to how the game developed from then on.
Elsewhere, there are some of the sport’s best ever players who cannot compare their trophy cabinets to that of Wu at 22. Mark Selby and Neil Robertson were both 24 when they landed their first ranking titles, while Mark Allen was 26. Shaun Murphy sensationally won the 2005 World Championship at 22, but had not picked up another ranking title before his next birthday. Steve Davis won six world titles and 28 ranking events, but his first was not until April 1981 at the Crucible when he was 23.
This is incredible company Wu is not just keeping but exceeding, with more success to his name than many of the finest cueists we have ever seen. Much can change over the years to come and there is no guarantee he will keep up with players who have become legends, but he does have time firmly on his side.
At 22, Wu is the only player under 29 years old in the top 16 and as you look down the rankings the first player you reach who is younger than Wu is 20-year-old Stan Moody at #41, followed by 22-year-old Liu Hongyu at #53. As O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams head further into their 50s and the likes of Selby, Robertson and Murphy march closer to the half-century, the path to glory will be ever clearer for the younger stars. Wu has done monumental things for his age, even with those big beasts still prowling the baize and is on course to be considered one of the best ever as the legendary competition finally fades.
