Wu Yize Dramatically Wins the 2026 World Snooker Championship

by Roy Brindley, 7 May 2026

Wu Yize proves king of the final frame shootouts by winning the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship.

Wu Yize won two deciding frames on his way to World Championship glory. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• Wu Yize has beaten Shaun Murphy in the 2026 World Snooker Championship final.
• The 22-year-old, now ranked fourth in the world, is the second successive Chinese World Champion.
• A 1,000-table snooker centre will soon open in China.
• The 2026 Shanghai Masters will feature several Chinese players.

“Arguably, the best standard of Snooker we have ever seen. The most exciting semi-final we’ve ever seen and an amazing final.” That is how the legendary Steve Davis described the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship following its conclusion on Monday night.

The £500,000 to-the-winner competition delivered a new champion when Wu Yize claimed the title in a dramatic final frame decider against Shaun Murphy. Quoted on 12/1 odds by the UK’s betting sites at the competition’s outset, the new champion is just 22.

The Chinese player’s passage to the final was remarkable. He had also played a one-frame shootout against Mark Allen in the semi-finals. On this occasion, in a game that will live long in the memory, Wu’s opponent missed a short-range ‘sitter’ final black from its spot to win the match.

Hossein Vafaei (quarter-finals), Mark Selby (second round) and Lei Peifan (opening round) were other opponents that Wu Yize beat en route to World Championship glory. Murphy accounted for a trio of Chinese players: Fan Zhengyi, Xiao Guodong and defending champion, Zhao Xintong in the opening rounds.

Yize Took First Blood in Final

Shaun Murphy, 18/1 in the pre-tournament betting, also overcame John Higgins in the World Championship semi-finals on his quest to bridge a 21-year gap and win Snooker’s biggest prize for a second time.

Outright victory for the 2005 champion looked unlikely when he lost the first three frames in the final. But, taking the next four frames, the first session ended four-all. Session two saw Wu Yize win six of the nine frames played and end the first day’s action 10-7 ahead.

On day 2, Murphy notched up five consecutive frames to temporarily take the lead before the younger player conjured up three successive frames to enter the final session of play with a slender 13-12 advantage.

Finalists Exchanged Blows

The final seven frames of the confrontation were compelling. No player won two frames in a row. In frame 33, Murphy raced to 45 before a red to the top pocket hit its jaws and failed to drop. A trademark long red from Wu set him up a brilliant 91 clearance, putting him on the brink of glory.

However, as Wu Yize appeared to be cruising to the winning line in frame 34, he missed a black off its spot. In a genuine test of Murphy’s mettle, the more experienced player produced a 75 clearance to take the match to a deciding frame.

Not since 2002, when Peter Ebdon beat Stephen Hendry, had a final gone to a decider. In-play betting sites could not separate the pair ahead of the 608th and final break of the 2026 championship.

An early opportunity for Murphy saw his odds collapse, but the five-time finalist could only accumulate eight points before resorting to a safety shot. Ultimately, it was a brave red to a middle pocket that gave Wu Yize his opportunity, which he embraced with a championship-winning 85 break.

China Going Potty for Snooker

With Wu Yize following in Zhao Xintong’s footsteps, China now has two world champions, and the flourishing sport is set to explode in the country. It is estimated that there are already 100,000 snooker halls across the nation.

In Changping Town, Dongguan, approximately 100 kilometres north of Hong Kong, the Dongguan Changping Snooker Centre is currently under construction. It will reportedly serve as a high-quality training venue featuring 1,000 snooker tables, along with a 500-room snooker-themed hotel.

The sport is now on its spring break, but it will return in the summer with the Championship League. The tour will then head to China for the Shanghai Masters in July, where Wu Yize (ranked No. 4), Zhao Xintong (3), Xiao Guodong (11), Ding Junhui (15) and Si Jiahui (16) are all guaranteed a place in the field.