Find out more about World Snooker Championship finalist Wu Yize as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of his Chinese compatriot Zhao Xintong and become just the second Asian player to reign supreme in Sheffield.
The 22-year-old holds a narrow advantage over Shaun Murphy heading into the second day of the showpiece final, but will he manage to hold his nerve and see off the spirited champion of 2005, or will the Magician conjure up a comeback to land his second title over two decades on from his first?
Where is Wu Yize from?
Wu Yize heralds from Lanzhou in Gansu, China.
Renowned for his fast, front-footed and attacking approach, the Asian sensation is just the third player from the continent to reach the World Snooker Championship final, following Zhao Xintong and Ding Junhui.
How old is Wu Yize?
Wu Yize is 22 years of age and celebrates his 23rd birthday later this year, on October 14.
What is Wu Yize's world ranking?
Wu Yize is the current world number 10 although that will change regardless of whether he wins the Word Snooker Championship or not.
His performance in reaching the Crucible final means he will end the campaign as the world number nine, although should he beat Shaun Murphy then he will go as high as number four, elevating himself above the likes of Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Murphy and John Higgins.
Wu Yize previous Crucible results
- Lost 10-3 to Neil Robertson (R1 - 2023)
- Lost 10-8 to Mark Williams (R1 - 2025)
Remarkably Wu Yize had never won a game at the iconic Crucible Theatre prior to his run to this year's final.
The 22-year-old had twice qualified for the televised stages of the competition, but had been beaten in his opening match on each occasion.
His first taste of the WST's showpiece event came in 2023 where he lost out to Neil Robertson 10-3, whilst just 12 months ago he gave three-time champion of the world Mark Williams an almighty opening round scare, before succumbing to an eventual 10-8 defeat.
Yize's 10-2 triumph over Lei Peifan in the first round of this year's championship represented his first victory on the hallowed South Yorkshire stage.
Who has Wu Yize beaten to reach the final?
- Semi-Final - 17-16 v Mark Allen
- Quarter-Final - 13-8 v Hossein Vafaei
- Last 16 - 13-11 v Mark Selby
- Last 32 - 10-2 v Lei Peifan
Make no mistake about it, Wu Yize has earned his first spot in the World Snooker Championship final.
Whilst he had little trouble in seeing off Lei Peifan in his opener, he then had to overcome one of the most game and challenging opponents on the tour in Mark Selby in the second round, before facing a rejuvenated Hossein Vafaei in the quarter-finals, an opponent who was in confident mood after dispatching of Judd Trump in a nerve-wracking decider a few days earlier.
A true battle for the ages with Mark Allen lay in wait in the semi-finals, where the Chinese star showed incredible courage and bottle to win the final three frames and break the heart of the Northern Irishman, who had been on the cusp of reaching the final for the first time.
Wu Yize's titles and accolades
Wu Yize has captured one previous major ranking title, with his maiden triumph taking place at the 2025 International Championship.
He saw off the legendary John Higgins in the final in China, 10-6, having previously fallen at the final hurdle in each of his two prior appearances in a televised final.
A 9-5 loss against Lei Peifan at the 2024 Scottish Open followed hot-on-the-heels of a 9-7 reverse at the hands of Neil Robertson in the English Open.
Yize has also reached, and lost, in two non-ranking finals, being beaten by Yuan Sijun at the 2023 Haining Open and Mark Selby in the 2026 Championship League Invitational curtain closer.
The 22-year-old is also a former IBSF World Under-21 Championship winner, beating Thailand's talented cueist Pongsak Chongjairak in the 2018 final.
