Inspired Wu Yize opens up three-frame lead over Shaun Murphy in World Snooker Championship final at Crucible

React to this story

Wu Yize produced a majestic potting performance to open up a 10-7 lead over Shaun Murphy in the 50th World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield.

Spectator thrown out of Crucible final after phone goes off

Video credit: TNT Sports

Resuming at 4-4 from a tough first session on Sunday, it was Wu, 22, who found his flamboyant scoring form at an enthralled Crucible to win six of the nine frames in the second session in his quest to land the sport's biggest prize.

Breaks of 82, 103, 89, 66 and 91 saw the International Championship winner, who is trying to emulate compatriot Zhao Xintong as China's second world champion, eke out a three-frame advantage having earlier led 3-0, 8-5 and 9-6.

Murphy, winner in 2005, tried hard to impose his will, but had to settle for second best on the first day of the best-of-35 frame final with knocks of 72 and 70 keeping his hopes alive before the final day on Monday.

Halo World Championship

'It was a shocking miss' - Why Allen can't explain error that cost him world title shot

24/05/2026 at 14:48

Play starts at 13:00 on Monday, with the final session at 19:00.

The first man to 18 frames will lift the title and earn a £500,000 winner's cheque.

'Magnificent' - Wu pots amazing red and black to help him pinch final frame of night

Video credit: TNT Sports

First session report

Shaun Murphy roared back from 3-0 down against Wu Yize to level up the World Championship final after a demanding first session in Sheffield.

Wu, bidding to become the second Chinese player to lift the sport's greatest trophy after Zhao Xintong, managed to scrap his way to the opening three frames, boosted by knocks of 51 and 61.

But it was 2005 champion Murphy who found his scoring boots from that juncture as runs of 85, 98, 77 and 109 saw him move 4-3 clear with Wu restricted to only 25 points in seeing his lead wiped out.

The final frame of the session was a big one, and it was Wu who claimed it as he got in early with a superb long red and tricky black.

The International Championship winner made 65 with reds and blacks before seeing a black to right middle stay out in his maximum attempt.

It ultimately counted for nothing as Wu saw off the snooker attempts by his opponent late in the frame.

Spectator thrown out of Crucible final after phone goes off

Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy 7-9 Wu (39-91)

A breathtaking clearance of 91 from Wu as the young Chinese player moves 10-7 clear overnight.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (39-66)

Not many more needed to pinch a huge frame in this session. Heading for the colours. Only needs blue and yellow. Lands perfectly on yellow from blue.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (39-42)

Down to the final four reds with Wu still at the table building momentum. Really is brimming with self-belief out there.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (39-17)

What a majestic long red by Wu and in goes black. That is a remarkable level of long potting. In goes the cutback black too. High black is knocked in seconds later. What a big chance then to get his nose in front.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (38-0)

Out of position though and looks like he might turn down a blue to yellow pocket. Just running safe off green.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (38-0)

Excellent pot on a red by Murphy. Back out for the black and those reds suddenly look highly inviting for a big break after he scatters them.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (22-0)

Murphy would feel like this is a result if he can get the session back to only one overnight.

Murphy 7-9 Wu (8-0)

Off we go then for the 17th frame of this final...a poor effort Wu at a long red, and he sticks up an easy red for Murphy.

Murphy 6-9 Wu (66-1)

Getting the job done at the second attempt. So will either be a one or three-frame lead for Wu overnight. 42 is good enough to see it out. Heading for final frame of the sesh.

Murphy 6-9 Wu (30-1)

But he can't land on a red from the black and misses red to right centre. Which is not good news. Wu then almost flukes a long red, but it stays over the bag. Another chance for Murphy.

Murphy 6-9 Wu (17-1)

This is heavy-hitting stuff out there. Really is. Early in the break, but would fancy Shaun to go close to winning the frame as a red is nailed to the green pocket.

Murphy 6-9 Wu (1-1)

A brilliant plant on reds by Murphy. Not sure how he spotted that, but the red flies down the bag. Wu for once can't make a long red of his own.

Murphy 6-9 Wu (0-1)

Another glorious long red by Wu is drained. Unfortunate not to land on a colour.

Murphy 6-9 Wu (0-1)

Murphy breaks off in the penultimate frame of this session. Rapid stuff this evening.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-72)

Stunning red from distance by Wu. What a shot that is. And that will pave the way for a three-frame lead. Again. So will he lead by one, three or five frames overnight? 66 break in that frame.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-66)

Wu is really revelling in this final. Lovely red is sunk to the yellow pocket. In goes blue. Wu with a lead of 37 points on the final red.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-54)

Wu Yize looks the real deal among the balls in this single-table set-up. In control of his emotions and the white ball.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-33)

Wu into the lead then in the frame he requires for an overnight advantage in this contest.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-9)

Can Wu hold himself together here? A very decent opportunity to at least build a lead in this frame.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-0)

Plant from Murphy doesn't drop. How has that not gone in?

Murphy 6-8 Wu (29-0)

Murphy not taking full advantage of this latest chance. Sizing up a red down a side rail, but it moved away from bag at the last minute. Wu tries to knock red in off the other red, but doesn't make it either. All happening.

Murphy 6-8 Wu (21-0)

Murphy again smacking open the reds in potting another red. Is he on the black? Golden chance to weigh in. In goes black. Reds all out and about. This is epic hitting here.

Murphy 5-8 Wu (83-0)

Shaun back to 8-6 behind with a rapid break of real intent. A 70 knock from Murphy this time to keep in touch.

'I don't want to have to keep doing this' - Referee issues stern warning over phone interruptions

Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy 5-8 Wu (69-0)

Murphy stemming the tide with this effort. Which is a very tidy knock indeed. Can he roll in another century here?

Murphy 5-8 Wu (56-0)

Don't expect Wu to be coming back to the table here. Murphy looking to cash in on the fluked red by taking out this frame in one hit.

Murphy 5-8 Wu (30-0)

A bit of good fortune for Shaun as a red somehow ends up dropping in via the black and another red. Plenty of balls in the open to attack. Vital that he offers some ammo of his own here.

Murphy 5-8 Wu (13-0)

So unfortunate again from Wu to drop in a red, but the white ends up diving down the left middle. Murphy with chance then to respond. Straight into pack off black. Very aggressive. But ends up losing the white at key time.

Murphy 5-7 Wu (8-89)

Classy 89 break. One-chance Wu is moving 8-5 ahead in race to 18. Four more frames to come in the session.

Murphy 5-7 Wu (8-69)

Shaun watches another frame slip by. First man to nine frames will enjoy the overnight lead. And Wu is moving onto eight here.

Murphy 5-7 Wu (8-55)

A bit like Ronnie and Zhao, this guy makes snooker look extremely easy when he is on point. Golden chance to regain his three-frame lead in Sheffield.

Murphy 5-7 Wu (8-24)

Super cut on a black by Wu, and he is right back in position A1 here. Another obvious chance to build a lead in this frame.

Murphy 5-7 Wu (8-8)

Wu manages to smuggle a red into the left middle after an error from Murphy. How many will he make here?

Murphy 5-7 Wu (8-0)

Wu goes in off after slotting a lovely long red. That was a bit unfortunate. A mobile phone goes off at Crucible. Cue the groans.

Murphy 5-7 Wu (4-0)

Back with this title match then. Murphy sizing up a long red. But doesn't drop on this occasion. Five more frames to come this evening.

Latest: Murphy 5-7 Wu (0-0)

'Started in ominously fine fashion' - Wu flukes pink to make his first century of final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy 5-6 Wu (8-72)

Murphy coming back to the table, but this frame is surely a done deal. Red doesn't drop with the rest and Wu can enjoy the mid-session interval clasping this two-frame lead.

Murphy 5-6 Wu (0-63)

Five reds left on the table, but this looks like a very decent chance to regain his 7-5 lead at the mid-session break. In goes black, and Murphy will require a snooker.

Murphy 5-6 Wu (0-33)

A dreadful safety shot by Wu, but Murphy can't can a mid-range red and suddenly Wu is back at the baize. Probably didn't expect to be back among the balls so soon.

Murphy 5-6 Wu (0-23)

Another stunning opening red by Wu as he enjoys first prod at the balls. In goes brown too. Not in rude health though regarding position. And he misses a tough red by miles.

Murphy 4-6 Wu (80-32)

Shaun slots red and black. And that will do us for the 11th frame. Back to 6-5.

Murphy 4-6 Wu (72-32)

Wu coming back to the table then to try for the snookers he needs. Taking this down then to the final red in his search for two snookers.

Murphy 4-6 Wu (72-0)

Both men fully in stroke out there. Murphy forced to take on blue rather than pink. But he does enough to drop it in. Looks like like 6-5 now. No plant, but 72 looks like job done.

Murphy 4-6 Wu (47-0)

Wu discovering what happens when you switch off. That break-off shot was bad, and looks like he might be punished in full.

Murphy 4-6 Wu (15-0)

Wu making a bit of a blunder from the break-off shot. Murphy responds by careering into the pack of reds seconds later. Now then. What can he piece together on his own wicket?

Murphy 4-6 Wu (0-0)

‘It’s fantastic’ - England legend Seaman revels in first Crucible visit, backs Arsenal for title

Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-110)

A fluke on the pink to right middle from Wu completes the ton. 103 is the magic number. And a 6-4 lead for Wu.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-79)

Chance here then for a first century of the final for Wu.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-59)

Sharp shooting from Wu as he heads for a 6-4 lead in this final. In goes frame-ball red. And on goes Wu Yize.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-36)

This is quality stuff from the young Chinese player. Looks a lot more like himself after a tough first session this afternoon.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-23)

Powers in the blue before screwing the white back to reds. In goes red to left middle. Suddenly a nice chance developing for Wu.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-9)

Another fabulous long red by Wu. Nothing wrong with his long game out there.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (16-3)

Shaun with a quickfire 16 in response before he loses the white. So safety is the order of the day.

Murphy 4-5 Wu (0-3)

Another brilliant opening red from Wu early in this 10th frame. But not much to follow as he is forced to run safe.

Murphy 4-4 Wu (1-82)

Red stays out on 82. No century from Wu, but the missed brown to left middle is the pivotal miss in frame. A 5-4 lead for Wu Yize.

Murphy 4-4 Wu (1-60)

Golden chance to get the ninth frame of this final won in one visit.

Murphy 4-4 Wu (1-54)

Another pot on the black sees him attack the pack for a second time. But not sure he is on much here until he picks out a super cut on a red.

Murphy 4-4 Wu (1-23)

Wu fires in a long red to continue this visit to the table. Reds nicely opened too via black.

Murphy 4-4 Wu (1-8)

Excellent long red by Shaun to get this second session up and away, but brown to left middle stays out. Wu with an early chance of his own.

Murphy fights back to level final

Shaun Murphy roared back from 3-0 down against Wu Yize to level up the World Championship final after a demanding first session in Sheffield.

Wu, bidding to become the second Chinese player to lift the sport's greatest trophy after Zhao Xintong, managed to scrap his way to the opening three frames, boosted by knocks of 51 and 61.

But it was 2005 champion Murphy who found his scoring boots from that juncture as runs of 85, 98, 77 and 109 saw him move 4-3 clear with Wu restricted to only 25 points in seeing his lead wiped out.

The final frame of the session was a big one, and it was Wu who claimed it as he got in early with a superb long red and tricky black.

The International Championship winner made 65 with reds and blacks before seeing a black to right middle stay out in his maximum attempt.

It ultimately counted for nothing as Wu saw off the snooker attempts by his opponent late in the frame to ensure it is as you were before they resume the second session at 19:00 with nine more frames to come.

The first man to 18 frames on Monday will lift the title and earn a £500,000 winner's cheque.