Wu Yize Leads Shaun Murphy 10-7 in World Snooker Championship Final

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.

In the semi-final, Wu defeated Mark Allen 17-16 in a match that featured a record-breaking 100-minute frame. The 40-year-old player lost after missing a black in the penultimate frame. The 14th frame surpassed the previous Crucible record of 85 minutes and 22 seconds set by Yan Bingtao and Mark Selby in 2022.

During that frame, the players exchanged 75 consecutive safety shots over 31 minutes, with no balls potted for 56 minutes.

" Allen defended his tactical approach, stating that some shots require extended time and rejecting shot clocks. He suggested changes to re-rack rules, such as retaining points or starting with the same reds remaining. Allen noted frustration with officials' handling, including referee Marcel Eckardt's delay in intervening and the appearance of fellow referee Rob Spencer under instruction from tournament director Martin Clark.

“Shot clocks, I'm not for. Sometimes shots just take a long time.”

Tour confirmed Spencer only informed Eckardt it was the session's final frame, with no pressure for a re-rack. Allen acknowledged the incident did not affect the outcome but felt earlier action could have allowed a resolution. Despite the loss, Allen praised Wu graciously in his press conference.