Who is Wu Yize? Chinese snooker superstar chasing World Championship title against Shaun Murphy

Wu Yize is in action at the World Championship final for the second year running against Shaun Murphy in a thrilling encounter at the Crucible.

Victory would make the 22-year-old the second-youngest world champion in history, behind only Stephen Hendry.

At just 16, he left his home city of Lanzhou and relocated to Sheffield, where he shared a windowless flat and slept in the same bed as his father during his early days in Britain.

He turned professional the following year at 17, but the transition proved far from straightforward.

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Wu told BBC Sport: "In the beginning there was not a lot of prize money, so there was definitely a lot of pressure and also there was a lot for myself to improve in terms of my game.

"I wasn't mentally in a good place, but I'm really happy I overcame many difficulties to come to here to where I am today."

His mother remains in China and visits only occasionally, though she has travelled to Sheffield to watch the tournament.

The 2025-26 campaign has marked Wu's emergence as a genuine force in professional snooker.

His maiden ranking title came at the International Championship in Nanjing last November, followed by a run to the last four at the Masters in his first appearance at the prestigious invitational event.

These performances have propelled him to 10th in the world rankings, with the possibility of climbing as high as fourth should he lift the trophy.

Both Ronnie O'Sullivan, the sport's most decorated player, and Scottish legend John Higgins have provided the young Chinese player with advice and mentorship along the way.

Wu has indicated he would use the £500,000 winner's prize to purchase his ideal home.

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The final presents a fascinating generational contrast, with Wu having been just 18 months old when Murphy claimed his sole world title in 2005, also at the age of 22.

Both players are renowned for their aggressive, attacking approach to the game.

Wu's route to the final saw him overcome Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, Hossein Vafaei and Mark Allen, performances that have drawn praise from O'Sullivan and Murphy, who have both tipped him as a future world champion.

Zhao Xintong's triumph last year has fuelled Wu's confidence, with the Chinese player saying that his success "definitely made me believe in myself more because he made history".

Known for his fearless style and distinctive individuality, Wu appears ready to make history of his own.

He is currently in action against Murphy at the Crucible in a best-of-35-frame contest.

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