Crucible final reaches dramatic one-frame cliffhanger as Wu Yize edges past Shaun Murphy
After Murphy reclaimed the lead with a series of high breaks, the 22-year-old Chinese player responded with crucial runs to level and regain the advantage, setting up a tense resumption at 19:00 BST.
The 2026 World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield has entered a critical phase, with Wu Yize holding a narrow 13-12 lead over Shaun Murphy heading into the last session. The contest, a best-of-35-frames decider, has reached a stage not seen since the 2014 final between Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan, where only a single frame separated the finalists before the break.
Murphy, the 2005 world champion, mounted a significant challenge during the afternoon session, reclaiming the advantage with a sequence of breaks totaling 76, 52, 59 and 60. His efforts capitalised on moments where the 22-year-old Wu Yize appeared to struggle with his trademark long-potting ability, leaving the Englishman opportunities to capitalise on the 23rd frame.
However, the momentum shifted decisively when Wu crafted an important break of 64 after Murphy left a red over the right corner. This intervention halted Murphy's charge and allowed the Chinese player to limit the damage, eventually levelling the match with a contribution of 46 before regaining the lead with runs of 60 and 61 in the final frame of the session.
Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion, observed Wu Yize's resilience on BBC Two, noting that the young player "dug himself out of a hole" and felt "10 feet tall" as he walked out of the arena. Doherty highlighted that while Murphy did not miss much in the final three frames, Wu made his own breaks to secure the advantage, describing the session as fabulous snooker.
The match is scheduled to resume at 19:00 BST with the outcome still undecided. If Wu Yize secures victory, he will become the second-youngest world champion in Crucible history, a potential milestone for a player who could set a new record for the longest gap between titles if Murphy were to win.
