IS SNOOKER ON THE VERGE OF CHINESE TAKEOVER? WU YIZE REVEALS WHAT HE LOVES MOST ABOUT SPORT AFTER LANZHOU LION'S EPIC WORLD.l CHAMPIONSHIP TRIUMPH

"Wu's next?" is the question you might be asking after the 50th World Championship delivered a stylish Chinese winner for the second straight year.

Wu Yize of China poses with the World Snooker Championship trophy after defeating Shaun Murphy of England 18-17 in the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, May 4, 2026. /VCG

Wu Yize became the fourth straight first-time holder of the sport's greatest trophy with an epic 18-17 victory over 2005 champion Shaun Murphy, in only the fourth final-frame decider since Sheffield first staged the event in 1977.

The Lanzhou Lion with the ferocious long game has explained why he revels in the quieter moments of the sport, which saw him defeat Lei Peifan (10-2), Mark Selby (13-11), Hossein Vafaei (13-8) and Mark Allen (17-16) before toppling the freewheeling Murphy in a heavyweight title match.

"I wish to stay healthy and keep playing snooker," said Wu, speaking to media in China. "I hope it can always be by my side for the rest of my life.

"Loneliness is an integral part of snooker. It's a quiet sport that demands patience and reflection. I think it's truly a blessing to take it as a passion."

With a record 11 players from China appearing on the starting grid this year, and the world's second-most populous country of 1.4 billion boasting back-to-back Crucible winners, it is worth wondering if we are at the start of Chinese domination of the sport.

Indeed, in Wu and last year's world champion Zhao Xintong, China have two players inside the top five of the game's ranking for the first time.

Yet when you look at the changes in the rankings over the past decade, it is probably a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.

While China can boast five players inside the top 16, there is hardly a revolution underway, certainly not in terms of the world rankings, which were first published 50 years ago.

Selby was world No. 1 after he defeated Ding Junhui 18-14 in the 2016 final in Sheffield, with Ding the only Chinese player inside the top 16.

Judd Trump, Murphy, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Mark Allen, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams, Barry Hawkins and Kyren Wilson were all among the elite a decade ago.

And they remain inside the top 16 in 2026 with Stuart Bingham, Ricky Walden, Joe Perry, Marco Fu and Martin Gould the men to drop out, and Zhao, Wu, Xiao Guodong, Chris Wakelin and Si Jiahui the new arrivals.

It means a quarter of the top 16 are from China, but age is perhaps a better indicator of future patterns.

While Zhao, Wu and Si are all in their 20s, of the remaining 12 non-Chinese professionals, three are in their 50s, five their 40s and the other four in their 30s.

"Snooker is a very comprehensive and challenging sport," said Wu. "It can be different every time. You never get the same ball layout twice. I really enjoy that ever-changing feel of the game. "

The rankings feel like they are never-changing, appearing to move as quickly as Wu and Mark Allen's longest Crucible frame in Sheffield.

Time is probably on China's side, but as the rankings show, a similar narrative was also being spouted a decade ago.

World rankings 2015/16

1. Mark Selby (Eng)

2. Stuart Bingham (Eng)

3. Judd Trump (Eng)

4. Shaun Murphy (Eng)

5. Neil Robertson (Aus)

6. John Higgins (Sco)

7. Mark Allen (NI)

8. Ricky Walden (Eng)

9. Ding Junhui (Chn)

10. Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

11. Joe Perry (Eng)

12. Marco Fu (HK)

13. Mark Williams (Wal)

14. Barry Hawkins (Eng)

15. Martin Gould (Eng)

16. Kyren Wilson (Eng)

World rankings 2025/26

1. Judd Trump (Eng)

2. Neil Robertson (Aus)

3. Zhao Xintong (Chn)

4. Wu Yize (Chn)

5. John Higgins (Sco)

6. Shaun Murphy (Eng)

7. Mark Williams (Wal)

8. Kyren Wilson (Eng)

9. Mark Selby (Eng)

10. Barry Hawkins (Eng)

11. Xiao Guodong (Chn)

12. Mark Allen (NI)

13. Chris Wakelin (Eng)

14. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng)

15. Ding Junhui (Chn)

16. Si Jiahui (Chn)

- DESMOND KANE

SHAUN MURPHY SPLASHED OUT £37,000 ON NEW MERCEDES AND HOUSE AFTER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Shaun Murphy discussed how he spent his World Snooker Championship prize money.

Shaun Murphy spoke about how he spent his World Snooker Championship prize money (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

Shaun Murphy knew how he wanted to spend his prize money after winning the 2005 World Snooker Championship. The 43-year-old came agonisingly close to becoming a two-time winner, losing 18-17 to Wu Yize in the final, finishing runner-up for a fourth time.

Murphy was the same age as Wu is now when he rose from relative obscurity to take snooker’s top prize more than two decades ago. ‘The Magician’ triumphed 18-16 over Matthew Stevens in the final, having defeated the likes of Steve Davis and John Higgins during his run at the Crucible. It was a whirlwind experience for a player who had previously been ranked No.48 in the world. However, despite his surprise success, Murphy had a clear plan for his £250,000 prize money and buying a Mercedes was top of his list.

Shortly after his World Snooker Championship victory, The Telegraph reported that Murphy was in the process of buying a new £37,000 Mercedes. It had long been his dream to purchase the car, as he explained at the time.

"You know, I always had three goals as a kid growing up,” Murphy told The Telegraph in 2005, “To be world No 1, world champion and own a Mercedes. And at 22, I've got two out of three. Now I'm going to strive to be world No 1 and when I get there…”

A year on from becoming world champion, Murphy explained that his winnings had also allowed him to buy a house as an investment. Speaking to The Times, Murphy detailed his role in the house renovations: “I’m no good at the delicate stuff like choosing furnishings, but I’m good at smashing walls with a sledgehammer, like sending the cue ball into a pack of reds.”

Murphy clinched the world championship in 2005 (Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Winning the world championship was the first of Murphy’s 13 ranking titles so far. Two decades on, he proved he remained at the top of the sport by winning the British Open and the Masters in 2025.

He has earned an eye-watering £7.1million in prize money during his career, according to CueTracker. Remarkably, Murphy was given £200,000 for reaching the world final this year, which is just £50,000 less than he received for becoming champion in 2005.

After congratulating Wu on his win, Murphy told BBC Sport: "I hate being right - I said sometime earlier in the season when we had a great game out in China somewhere, I won that one but I came out afterwards and said that he would be world champion one day.

It's just a real shame that it was today, but I couldn't have given it any more, I couldn't have tried harder. I played the best shots I could have played and I didn't get my chance. I couldn't do any more than that."

- Jake Bayliss

STUNNING FINISH: WU YISE OUTSTANDING BREAK TO BEAT SHAUN MURPHY | HALO.WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SHAUN MURPHY ERUPTS AND DEMANDS ANSWERS AS WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP STAFF 'FACE SACK'

Shaun Murphy was left fuming during the World Snooker Championship after being distracted by a sudden burst of light and has called for a full investigation into how it happened

Shaun Murphy spoke at length about 'Lightgate'(Image: Getty Images)

Shaun Murphy has called for answers from snooker's 'Lightgate' investigation. The former world champion has also taken another dig at his outspoken heckler, cautioning him that the Crucible is no place for football stadium behaviour.

Murphy starts his World Snooker Championship second round match on Thursday against Chinese ace Xiao Guodong. Yet the strange incidents during his first-round victory over Fan Zhengyi continue to dominate conversation. Murphy was incensed on Tuesday evening after being caught out by an unexpected flash of light.

With the match between Judd Trump and Gary Wilson wrapping up on the adjacent table, they switched off the lights and raised the partition to give the entire arena a view of the gripping conclusion.

However, as the Magician lined up a crucial shot with the contest delicately poised at 8-8, Murphy was thrown off guard when those lights from the neighbouring table suddenly came back on mid-stroke.

The 2005 champion immediately confronted officials backstage after the frame and, though he went on to clinch the match 10-9, it did nothing to quell his anger afterwards. Murphy said: "We don't ask for much as snooker players, leave the lights off is one of them.

"It affected the shot; it affected the match, that was poor. I think World Snooker are having a bit of an inquest into how that happened because that shouldn't happen.

The incident didn't go down well with Shaun Murphy

"I hope to find out because that should never happen. I've never seen the light come on a table here, just phantom. World Snooker are having an inquest; somebody might not be employed tomorrow.

"I was on the blue, and it really put me off because, as I was about to strike, the lights came on, I didn't hit that ball as I intended.

"I meant to hit it a bit harder, and it made me stop on it. Maybe if I'd hit the ball as I meant to, I'd have been on a red better, and the break might have carried on.

"I was lucky the blue went in because literally, as I was about to hit the ball, I could see the reflection of the light come on the blue, and it totally took my eye off. I was lucky the blue went in, but it really altered the way I was going to hit the ball. I didn't get the pace in it I wanted; it affected the result of the shot.

"That was a new one. I've been coming here for a long time now, and I've never had that happen before. It could hardly have happened at a more important moment."

When asked how he would have reacted had he lost the match, he added: "I would have been very upset, absolutely. I came off the table straight after that frame and happened to see the tournament director in the corridor. I said: 'Regardless of whether I win or lose, I think we need to look into what's happened here.' I think I won that frame to go 9-8 ahead. That shouldn't happen; these are basics, but weird things happen at the Crucible. It's only a few years since we had a pigeon in here."

Murphy, meanwhile, took another swipe at the spectator who became rather vocal during the opening session of his victory over Zhengyi. He turned to social media during the match interval to hit back at someone saying "s**t shot", but delivered a fuller account once the game had finished and did not hold back.

Shaun Murphy had plenty to say after his first round match(Image: 2025 VCG)

The former world champion said: "I've got no idea where they were, I think they were sat on the front row. I played a blue in and out of baulk, as it came round, I clipped the green, came off the cushion, cannoned into the reds. It was pretty much the shot I played. It was actually quite a good shot; I've definitely played worse shots.

"Then literally as the applause died down, he went 'shit shot.' It's unlike me, I would normally confront somebody like that because we're not football, you don't behave like that at the Crucible. As I got down to play the next red, I was still thinking: 'Jeez, maybe they've had a bit too much hospitality, they might have been enjoying the beer a bit too much.' And before I knew it, I'd missed the red, it was a lesson, I suppose, that if you're disturbed, start again."

- Matthew Abbott

"THE BEST HE'S EVER PLAYED!" | SHAUN MURPHY GETS COMMENTATORS PURRING WITH HIS SENSATIONAL BREAK

 

SUPER COMPUTER PREDICTS SNOOKER 2025 WORLD CHAMPION

 

FORMER SNOOKER WORLD CHAMPION TERRY GRIFFITH DIES AGED 77 FOLLOWING LONG BATTLE WITH DEMENTIA - AS WORLD NUMBER ONE JUDD TRUMP LEADS

• Snooker icon famously won at Crucible in 1979 in second professional tournament

• He went on to win Masters and UK Championship to complete career Triple Crown 

• Griffiths then became an esteemed coach working with the game's top players

Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77 after a long battle with dementia.

The legendary Welshman famously won at the Crucible in 1979 as a qualifier in just his second professional tournament.

The Welshman won a career Triple Crown before moving into coaching upon his retirement

Griffiths went on to win the Masters and UK Championship to complete a career Triple Crown before becoming an esteemed coach and working with some of the game's top players, including Mark Williams and Mark Allen.

'It is incredibly sad news,' said Judd Trump after winning the UK Championship in York on Sunday night. 'He is a legend of the game.

'Terry was a very witty guy. Whenever I was at the Welsh Open, he would come over and make a joke. I had a good connection with him.

'It is hard to connect with some of the older generation but he was someone I felt I could get along with. It is a sad day for Welsh sport.'

World No3 Allen posted on social media: 'What a legend of a man who helped shape my career and life both on and off the table. Absolutely heart broken. He wasn't just a coach, he was family.'

Griffiths pictured alongside Dennis Taylor during the the Embassy World Professional snooker championship in Sheffield

Shaun Murphy, who in 2005 became the only man since Griffiths to win a world title as a qualifier, said: 'Just hearing the news that Terry Griffiths has passed away. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones 

The World Snooker Tour's official X account posted: 'We are deeply saddened tonight to hear that Terry Griffiths, a former World Champion and all-time snooker great, has passed away at the age of 77.

'Our sincere condolences to Terry's family and many friends. He was loved and respected by everyone in the sport.'

The Welsh Billiards and Snooker Association said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of WBSA President Terry Griffiths OBE. 

'We send our deepest condolences to Terry's family. 

'RIP Griff.'

Griffiths pictured at the Embassy World Snooker championships at Sheffield Crucible Theatre

BBC Wales journalist Sue Charles added: 'Sad to say goodbye to a Llanelli legend. My dad Phil, was in school with Terry Griffiths. 

'One of his favourite tales was that they’d both occasionally skipped school to play snooker, which worked out much better for one than the other! Farewell Terry, forever a world champion.' 

The WPBSA posted on X: 'This evening we are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our 1979 world snooker champion Terry Griffiths OBE at the age of 77. All our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.'

Griffiths's memorable win in 1979 was only the second time a qualifier had won snooker's premier competition after Alex Higgins achieved the feat seven years prior. 

After his final appearance at the Crucible in 1997, Griffiths commentated on major matches for the BBC.

He was awarded an OBE for services to snooker in 2007. 

CHINA'S XIAO GUODONG CAPTURES FIRST-EVER RANKING TITLE AT WUHAN OPEN

Xiao Guodong of China prepares to take a shot against Si Jiahui of China in the final at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, October 12, 2024. /CFP

Xiao Guodong of China outlasted compatriot Si Jiahui 10-7 in the final at the World Snooker Tour (WST) Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on Saturday, winning the first ranking title of his career.

Both players overcame a series of top opponents to advance to the championship contest. Xiao knocked out World No. 2 Kyren Wilson and world champion Shaun Murphy of England, while Si defeated World No. 1 and 29-time ranking event winner Judd Trump of England.

The match at the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center marked the third time for two Chinese players to face each other in a final. Eleven years ago, Xiao found himself on the losing end of the first all-Chinese title match on the Tour, when he fell to Ding Junhui 10-6 in the Shanghai Masters final in 2013.

Xiao closed the first session leading 6-3. He took four of the first five frames and tallied breaks of 128 and 73 in the eighth and ninth. Si, despite being outperformed, reeled off a century run of 108, in addition to two breaks of 84, in the three frames he clinched.

Xiao Guodong (R) of China displays the championship trophy after beating Si Jiahui of China 10-7 in the final at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, October 12, 2024. /CFP

Xiao started the second session with an 82-0 run in the 10th frame, but Si immediately responded a break of 109 to take the 11th. Xiao then extended his lead to 9-4 with a century run of 113, and a break of 77, in the following two frames.

Although Si rallied again to claim three straight frames, including rolling in a break of 131 in the 15th, Xiao came back by laying a snooker on the last red ball in the 16th to seal the deal.

"Before winning a title, I thought the moment of victory would be incredibly exciting," the 35-year-old Xiao said. "I'm really happy now, but it's not as overwhelming as I imagined. Nevertheless, I feel that all the hard work over the years has finally paid off. For a player, winning a title is extremely important. I turned professional in 2007, and after 17 years of competing, I've finally won my first ranking title. No matter what, it's all been worth it."

"I was a bit nervous in the final, but I have no regrets. I played well enough. It's a bit of a pity, but it's okay. I'll come back next time and aim to win my first title," Si noted. "The Masters (scheduled for January) is an opportunity to play against the top 16 players, which is a great chance to learn from them. Gaining experiences like these will be very helpful for me in the future."

- CGTN

SHAUN MURPHY VS. JACK LISOWSKI | FINAL FEAMES