Wu Yize was crowned the new world champion. © APA/afp / DARREN STAPLES

Dramatic finale: There is a new snooker world champion.

The young Chinese player Wu Yize has won the Snooker World Championship for the first time in his career.

05 May 2026

From: dpa

The 22-year-old prevailed in a final in Sheffield, England, in a close contest that went down to the wire, defeating local favorite Shaun Murphy 18-17. The match was played in a best-of-35-frame format. Yize succeeds his compatriot Zhao Xintong, who defeated Mark Williams of Wales 18-12 last year.

"I believe belief was the deciding factor," said the winner immediately after the greatest success of his career. "I've been working towards this for years – and I'm happy to have finally achieved it."

Uncrowned comeback

The decision at the Crucible Theatre came in the fourth session of the final, after Murphy – the 2005 world champion – had fought his way back in the afternoon session, narrowing the gap to 12-13. After the first day, Yize had already held a 10-7 lead – despite a poor start.