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Wu Yize Leads Shaun Murphy 10-7 in World Snooker Championship Final
Chinese player Wu Yize built a 10-7 lead over Shaun Murphy in the World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre. The 22-year-old won the final frame of Sunday's session with a 91 break after earlier runs of 82 and 103. The best-of-35 match resumes today, with Wu positioned to become the second-youngest Crucible champion.
May 3, 5:11 PM·2m read2 sources
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Yize established a 10-7 advantage over Shaun Murphy in the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The 22-year-old Chinese player, in his first Crucible final, resumed the evening session tied at 4-4 and produced breaks of 82 and 103 to pull ahead.
Murphy, 43, responded with a 72 break but could not halt Wu's momentum, as the younger player added runs of 89 and 66 to win three of the next four frames.
The afternoon session was interrupted when a female spectator jumped over the front-row barrier, prompting referee Rob Spencer and security to remove her. Later, in the 15th frame, another spectator was ejected after their phone alarm sounded while Murphy prepared a shot.
Murphy rallied in the 16th frame with an outrageous plant to narrow the gap to 9-7, but Wu sealed the session with a long red followed by a 91 break in the final frame.
“There is a long, long way to go but he is in front overnight and you can't ask for more than that.”
Wu prevails, he would become the second-youngest Crucible champion, behind only Stephen Hendry, who won at 21 in 1990. Wu is three months younger than Murphy was during his 2005 victory, and a win would make him the second consecutive Chinese champion after Zhao Xintong. Murphy, in his fifth final, aims to set a record for the longest gap between first and second titles.
