From windowless room to world champion: The sacrifices behind Wu Yize’s historic snooker title

On Monday evening, the crowd inside Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre erupted in deafening applause that greeted the new world snooker champion from China.

When the final black ball dropped and secured an 18-17 victory over Shaun Murphy, Wu did not just etch his name into the history books. He made all the sacrifices of his family worthwhile.

Family’s ultimate gamble

Wu’s ascent to the pinnacle of the sport reads like a fairy tale. Born in China, his talent was evident at an early age, from the moment he first picked up a cue.

Recognizing their son possessed a rare gift, his family decided to go all in. To help his son practice, his father, Wu Jiepin, shut down the antique shop he had operated for many years.

According to South China Morning Postthe pair traveled nationwide chasing the snooker dream, eventually using up all their family savings.

At age 11, Wu arrived in Foshan with his father to train with Australian coach Roger Leighton. Within a couple of weeks, Wu almost doubled his highest break from 49 to 89.

“He was a cheeky little kid at 11 years old. He was cheeky and funny,” Leighton told Metro. “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.”

Two years later, his father decided to sell their only flat in Lanzhou and sent his son to the Ding Junhui Snooker Academy in Dongguan.

However, that was still not enough. The family knew that to compete with the best, Wu needed to be in England, the heart of professional snooker. At just 16 years old, Wu packed his bags and relocated to Sheffield, while his father quit his job and moved there with him.

The transition was brutal. Leaving his hometown behind, he was thrust into a completely different culture and a highly competitive environment.

The most significant hurdle was finance. Wu and his father had to endure difficult living conditions for the first two years. They rented a cramped, windowless room in Sheffield. The space was so small and their budget so tight that the two had to share the same bed. His father also worked multiple jobs to make a living.

“Especially the first year when I arrived in the U.K. to train and play, I wasn’t mentally in a good place, Wu said, as quoted by The Sun. “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 Yize (C) holds the trophy as his parents wrap a Chinese flag around his shoulders after his victory over Shaun Murphy in the World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield, England, on May 4, 2026. Photo by AFP

While Wu and his father were navigating their path in Sheffield, his mother was struggling with health problems at home.

“My mum wasn’t in very good health condition for a long time,” Wu told BBC. “During that time we were in Sheffield, she has been in hospital a lot. She is forever a source of strength to me. She sacrificed everything for me. At that time she told me ‘don’t come back home, I can manage everything’. It was the second year I was playing in the U.K.

“At that time my ranking was very low, so it was a crucial time for me to achieve some good results and keep my professional status. She means everything to me.”

Glory and giving back

Wu turned professional in 2021 at age 17 and was named Rookie of the Year for his breakthrough performances.

He made his Crucible debut in 2023, suffering a 3-10 defeat to Neil Robertson, and later lost two ranking tournament finals in 2024 at the English and Scottish Opens.

All the struggles, failures, hard work and determination to repay his parents’ dedication forged the warrior in Wu. He finally emerged as a new global star at the 2026 World Snooker Championship.

Displaying a level of composure far beyond his age, Wu made it through the grueling 17-day tournament with the title. He faced some of the sport’s biggest names, ultimately arriving at a nerve-wracking deciding frame against Murphy, a seasoned veteran and former world champion.

In those crucial moments, with £500,000 (US$680,000) of prize money on the line, Wu held his nerve. He crafted a break of 85, sinking the final balls to seal his first world title.

With this achievement, he became only the second Chinese world champion after Zhao Xintong last year, and the second-youngest winner in the sport’s long history, trailing only the legendary Stephen Hendry.

Wu Yize during a match at the 2026 World Snooker Championship. Photo by AFP

The victory brought Wu’s total season earnings to over £860,000.

With his financial future instantly secured, the new champion’s first thoughts turned to his family. There were no plans for flashy cars or extravagant parties.

Wu expresses his intention to spend this life-changing prize money on buying a new house for his family and plans to take his parents to travel the world, ensuring they will never have to endure difficult conditions again.

“This is the second time my mom has visited me in the U.K.,” Wu spoke through a translator after the final. “I think in the future I will take her more to be by my side. She sacrificed everything for me. Since I made the decision to drop out of school, my dad has been by my side. My mom has also gone through a lot over the years. I love them so much. My parents are the true champions.”