Wu Yize won the 2026 World Snooker Championship by defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. This victory marks another milestone for Chinese snooker.
Wu received £500,000 in prize money for his win. In addition, Chang Bingyu earned £172,000 despite not participating in the main tournament.
During the qualifying stage, Chang produced a remarkable 147 maximum break. Wu Yize is now ranked number four in the world snooker rankings.
As of midday, Judd Trump remains the world number one, followed by Zhao Xintong at third place. The final match was one of the few to last the full 35 frames.
In a statement, Wu expressed gratitude for his mother’s support, saying, “My mum wasn’t in very good health condition for a long time. She sacrificed everything for me.”
Chang Bingyu faced controversy after being banned for 20 months related to a match-fixing scandal. Officials noted that he was only 20 years old when his match-fixing took place.
Looking ahead, players will participate in Q School tournaments from May 13 to May 31, 2026. These tournaments will determine spots on the World Snooker Tour.
This championship win adds to Wu’s growing legacy and showcases the increasing prominence of Chinese players in international snooker.