Long after the roar of applause faded inside the Crucible Theatre, and long after the trophy presentation and post-final television interviews wrapped up, Wu Yize still could not fall asleep.

The 22-year-old Chinese rising snooker star had just edged out England's Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a gripping, down-to-the-wire World Snooker Championship final, claiming the first world title of his professional career.

Wu Yize of China poses with the World Snooker Championship trophy after defeating Shaun Murphy of England 18-17 in the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, May 4, 2026. (Photo: VCG)

When Murphy hoisted that very same world championship trophy back in 2005, Wu had not even turned two years old.

"You imagine those moments every day," Wu said. "And then they really happen. This has been the most complete experience I've ever had."

For Wu, the title meant far more than glory. It was the reward for years of sacrifice, loneliness and unwavering devotion to a sport that has come to shape nearly every part of his life.

NO FEAR

Wu plays snooker the same way he lives his life: aggressively, instinctively, and unflinchingly.

In Monday's deciding frame, trailing 8-0 against Murphy, Wu was presented with a high-difficulty attacking chance. Safer, more conservative shots were available. One mistake could have ended both the match and his championship dream.

He went for the attacking shot anyway.

Wu Yize of China hits a shot in the World Snooker Championship final against Shaun Murphy of England at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, May 4, 2026. (Photo: VCG)

"I knew if I missed, I would lose," Wu said. "But sometimes I'm willing to take risks. When my heart tells me to attack, I have to listen to that voice. I'm also willing to accept the risk of failure."

Wu said he prefers to simplify the game rather than allow fear to complicate it.

"When I believe I can attack, then I attack 100%," he said. "No matter the score, the situation, or the pressure, I only focus on that one shot."

That mentality has cost him matches before. This time, it carried him to the biggest victory of his career.

"To me, the choice itself is not about right or wrong," Wu said. "The important thing is whether you truly believe in it. Once you do, then just do it."

A FAMILY PROJECT

That playing philosophy traces back to his family.

Wu was born in 2003 in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, a region better known for the Loess Plateau than for producing elite snooker players.

As a young boy, he first stepped into a billiards hall with his father Wu Jiepin, and was instantly hooked on the game.

"At first I was just playing for fun," the 22-year-old recalled. "But my mother was willing to change the structure of the house just to fit the table."

His talent quickly became evident. His father, who ran an antique business, eventually put his own work on hold to help nurture his son's career, even with no clear sense of where this path would lead them.

In his early years, Wu received almost no formal coaching. He and his father would rewatch matches together to analyze errors independently, while his mother handled all daily household arrangements. The whole family operated as a tight-knit, mini snooker training unit.

Wu Jiepin even taught himself cue repair to support his son. "I used to work as a carpenter, so I had some skills and picked it up quickly," he said. "I would take a bunch of cues to the club to fix, and I learned the craft fast."

When he turned 16, Wu relocated to Sheffield with his father to pursue professional training at the sport's spiritual home. Speaking little English, the pair lived in a modest basement apartment while his father took on several jobs to cover training and living costs. There was no clear backup plan.

The family's commitment echoed the shot Wu chose in the deciding frame against Murphy: once they made their decision, there was no turning back.

"Without their support, I definitely would not be standing here," Wu said. "I borrowed their shoulders to reach this point."

INNER WORK

Wu describes snooker as a quiet, meditative sport that demands relentless introspection, patience, and self-examination.

Those who knew Wu in his childhood recall he was reserved and deeply contemplative by nature. His former coach Da Hailin noted that he displayed an exceptional natural instinct and understanding of the sport from a very young age.

Even so, Wu's first years in England were punishing. He lost frequently and struggled to adapt both on and off the table.

"When you're alone in a foreign country, you have to adapt to life there while facing all the pressure from training and competition," he said. "Those feelings can easily destroy a person."

The unrelenting, repetitive grind of professional snooker has long inflicted a severe psychological toll on players. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan once described the phenomenon as snooker depression.

Ronnie O'Sullivan (R) talks with Wu after the semifinal at the 2026 World Snooker Open in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 21, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

"My parents gave up a lot for me, and I knew I had to see this path through," he said. "I realized I had to become stronger. I had to raise my level."

Before this year's World Championship, Wu said he went an entire month without taking a single day off.

"You have to repeat the same things every day, even when they feel painful or boring," Wu said. "But you must prepare that way. I'm grateful I managed to get through those difficult moments."

ENDURING LOVE

Physically slight by nature, Wu depends far less on brute physical strength than on a rare, unyielding endurance - a grit rooted entirely in his genuine, abiding passion for the sport.

Wu Jiepin recalled that his son sometimes played up to 16 hours a day while still in kindergarten.

"What I love is that every frame is different," Wu said. "You never see exactly the same situation twice. I enjoy that challenge."

Over the course of his career, Wu has forged deep bonds within snooker's global fraternity.

O'Sullivan became one of Wu's strongest supporters. Last October, Wu traveled to Hong Kong, China, to learn from the seven-time world champion, who remained in close contact throughout Wu's title-winning run.

Mark Selby, whom Wu defeated during this year's tournament, also publicly praised the young Chinese player afterward, saying he could sense Wu's genuine passion for snooker.

"We swap insights on snooker from time to time," Wu said. "And when our own matches are finished, we cheer for each other."

For Wu, the love for the sport has taken the edge off years of loneliness living far from home, and made every sacrifice he and his family have made over the years feel entirely worthwhile.

Winning the world title is not the end of his ambition. Before the championship began, he said his goal was to create his own era in the sport.

"I feel fortunate to turn it into something I truly love," Wu said. "I just hope I can stay healthy and keep playing snooker at the top level for as long as possible."