PERHAPS it is fitting that Wu Yize’s favourite film is The Shawshank Redemption, a movie about a fictional prison break in the US state of Maine.
Because at this year’s , nobody was involved in a greater escape act than
Wu Yize booked his spot in the World Snooker Championship final with a win over Mark Allen Credit: Getty
It has been a breakthrough tournament for the 22-year-old Credit: Getty
in frame 32 of an epic semi-final with Wu on Saturday, then the Pistol would have been the one preparing for the two-day world final with Shaun Murphy.
Wu was practically out of the exit door and the when – and his Asian opponent was given a surprise reprieve.
Whatever happens from here, even if he does not lift a maiden world title on his third attempt and banks the £500,000 jackpot, Wu has fully announced himself to the world.
Prior to this year, he had twice lost in the first round but he has moved into the final by playing some spectacular and benefiting from one almighty moment of good fortune.
Wu, a wiry and lanky fellow, who is more than six foot tall, represents the new breed of young Chinese potters and his victory in Sheffield would surpass his £175,000 International Championship triumph last November.
During that run, he eliminated , Zhao Xintong and Barry Hawkins on his way to the final where he downed Scottish veteran 10-6.
It was that performance that saw him leapfrog into the top 16 and ultimately secure him a seeding spot for this year’s Worlds.
It was during that same time he caught the eye of a certain , who lauded praise on the future world finalist.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has acted as a mentor to Yize Credit: PA
Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, 50, said: “I was practising quite a bit with Wu Yize in Hong Kong before the tournament that he won.
“I was just telling him certain areas of his game that I think he needs to improve on if he wants to be a winner.
“If he wants to rely on playing brilliantly and winning, then carry on doing what you’re doing. But if you want to be able to play okay and win, then there are certain things that are just non-negotiable, you know?
“And I explained to him from my observations and what I thought they were.”
It has been a long and difficult journey to reach the Crucible showpiece for the star from the Chinese city of Lanzhou, who was crowned the IBSF Under-21 World Champion aged 14.
His father quit his job and moved with his son to Sheffield, where he could practise, but money was so tight that the pair shared a “tiny windowless room, sleeping on the same bed” for the first two years in England.
Homesickness was a problem and at the beginning “there was not a lot of prize money” to pay the food and rent bills.
Wu recalled: “Especially the first year when I arrived in the UK to train and play I wasn’t mentally in a good place. But I’m really happy I overcame many difficulties to come to where I am today.
“There was definitely a lot of pressure and also there was a lot for myself to improve in terms of my game, so I was definitely feeling the pressure at the time.”
Wu owes a lot to his childhood coach Roger Leighton – who hails from Preston but is based in Shangrao, China – and the pair began working together when he was 11.
Leighton told the Metro : “He was a cheeky little kid at 11 years old. He was cheeky and funny.
“After a couple of weeks, his high break increased to 70-odd and then he played Chang Bingyu one day, he was losing 2-0 and he came back with a 50 and an 89 break and he’d missed a long ball with the extension.
“I was like: ‘Wow, that’s amazing, you’ve nearly doubled your highest break in two weeks.’ But he wasn’t happy.
“He said to me: ‘It’s no good because Ronnie would have cleared up.’”
Wu turned professional in 2021 aged 17 and went on to receive the Rookie of the Year accolade for his breakthrough performances.
He made his Crucible debut in 2023, where he was thumped 10-3 by Neil Robertson, and then lost in two ranking tournament finals in 2024, at the English and Scottish Opens.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/Shutterstock (16857139f) Wu Yize of China competes during the semifinal between Mark Allen of Northern Ireland and Wu Yize of China at the World Snooker Championship 2026 in Sheffield, Britain, May 2, 2026. Britain Sheffield Snooker World Championship – 02 May 2026 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Fans have really taken to the fast and attacking Wu – who has hit eight centuries in four Crucible matches – and they roar ‘Wuuu’ whenever he does something special.
It is a similar reception that Yorkshire and England cricketer Joe Root gets when he walks to the crease.
Wu – who speaks limited English – likes and appreciates the chant but has asked officials to tell the crowd NOT to do it during active play.
Wu – who spends his off-time playing “Chinese mobile games like Honor of Kings, and League of Legends” – is aiming to become the second successive world champion from his homeland.
Zhao Xintong is the standard bearer for China and was crowned Crucible champion 12 months ago when he outclassed Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.
The Cyclone managed to hold his nerve and it will be fascinating to see if Wu does the same in his first match consisting of the best of 35 frames.
He will just hope he does not need to rely on another ‘jail-break’ when he battles the Magician.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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