China’s Snooker ‘Golden Age’ Begins as Wu Yize Wins World Championship

Wu Yize edges Murphy 18-17 in Crucible thriller to claim World Snooker title

Wu hailed his parents as the “real champions” after they sold their home and moved to Sheffield to support his career.

Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong joined millions in congratulating Wu as Chinese snooker enters a new era...

Ding Junhui called it “our era” after Wu Yize’s World Snooker Championship win ignited celebrations across China, with tens of millions hailing it as the sport’s latest milestone for the country.

Wu edged Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a tense final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday, making him the second Chinese player to claim snooker’s top title in as many years.

The victory added to China’s growing presence in snooker after Zhao Xintong’s historic win in 2025.

“This is Chinese snooker, congratulations Wu Yize,” Zhao posted on social media after losing to eventual runner-up Murphy earlier in this year’s tournament.

“This is not just a breakthrough, rather our era is approaching now!” Ding wrote on Weibo, the 2016 world finalist adding: “Happy for you and proud that Chinese snooker can make it to this day.”

Ding was once China’s only representative at the top level, but the country now has six players inside the world’s top 20 and a wave of young talent emerging.

“Now we're welcoming the golden age of Chinese snooker,” one Weibo user wrote...

WU YIZE IS THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!!!!!! 🏆🌍

He beats Shaun Murphy in an EPIC DECIDER to become the Crucible King.#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/QfzEnY1BEU

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 4, 2026

Snooker’s popularity in China has climbed steadily over the last 20 years, driven largely by Ding’s success and the inspiration he provided to Wu and other young Chinese players.

By Tuesday morning the hashtag “Wu Yize wins the World Championship” had racked up more than 40 million views on Weibo and briefly led the platform’s trending list.

The Dongguan Billiards Association, where Wu trained in 2019 and which has helped develop top Chinese players including Ding, also offered its congratulations.

The moment Wu Yize became world champion! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3yMlTR9Wef

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 4, 2026

“Your growth from a young dreamer to a world champion is... a testament to the vigorous rise of a new generation of Chinese snooker strength,” the association said in a statement.

The Communist Party’s official newspaper People’s Daily also congratulated Wu, who wrapped himself in the Chinese flag after the win.

Family Sacrifice Behind the Victory

Fans praised the sacrifices Wu’s family made to help him reach the top of the sport.

A Weibo hashtag about Wu’s father selling the family home in Lanzhou to fund his son’s snooker career had drawn 18 million views by midday Tuesday.

Wu’s father also shut down his antique shop to travel with his son across China, and later moved with him to Sheffield as he pursued the championship.

A social media user noted, “This regular family gave up everything to go professional.”

Following his Crucible win, Wu described his parents as the “real champions” during an interview.

A photo from 2012 showing eight-year-old Wu alongside Stephen Hendry in Lanzhou has reappeared online, with the accompanying hashtag attracting 2.9 million views.

At 22, Wu now ranks as the second youngest world champion in history, trailing only seven-time winner Hendry, who was 21 when he first claimed the title.

The Champion of the World. #WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/9ajDQWwa9w

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 4, 2026

One social media commenter said, “This regular family gave up everything to go professional.”

After winning at the Crucible, Wu credited his parents as the “real champions” in an interview.

An old 2012 photo of eight-year-old Wu with Stephen Hendry in Lanzhou has been circulating again online, and the related hashtag has garnered 2.9 million views.

Wu, now 22, became the second youngest player ever to win the world championship, with only seven-time champion Hendry having won it at a younger age of 21.