Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize live: Murphy hunting second World Championship title against wonderkid

Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize are all square following the first session of their 2026 World Snooker Championship final.

Wu, the 22-year-old Chinese prodigy trying to win his first world title, raced into a 3-0 lead but 2005 champion Murphy hit back with four frames on the spin, thanks to breaks of 85, 98, 77 and 109, before the younger man took the last to send us into this evening’s second session locked at 4-4.

A day of high semi-final drama had set up this mouthwatering clash, as Murphy stopped 50-year-old John Higgins becoming the oldest finalist in Crucible history by battling back from 15-13 down to snatch a 17-15 win in a classic, only for Wu and Mark Allen to overshadow that brilliance with their own late-night drama.

History had already been made in that match when they played out the longest frame in Crucible history on Friday afternoon – a 100-minute farce that was described as an embarrassment by six-time world champion Steve Davis – but Allen looked set to reach his first final as he lined up the simplest of blacks to seal a 17-15 win. Instead, the Northern Irishman somehow missed, Wu clinched the frame and then won the decider to leave his opponent heartbroken and set up a showdown with Murphy, aiming to match compatriot Zhao Xintong just 12 months after he became the first-ever Chinese world champion.

Follow all the action from the World Championship final at the Crucible below.

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Wu Yize: How the boy with bad technique became a star destined to win the World Snooker Championship

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize - live updates

• Shaun Murphy takes on Wu Yize in the 2026 World Snooker Championship final
• The best-of-35 match will be played over two days
• A protester briefly interrupts frame three before being dealt with by referee Rob Spencer
• Murphy is hunting a second world title, 21 years after his first, against 22-year-old wonderkid Wu

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize

20:02 , Luke Baker

Wu makes 23 with his initial visit but manages to earn himself another chance and this is a golden opportunity to build up a big advantage with plenty of reds in the open.

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize

19:58 , Luke Baker

Another Murphy break, another chance at a long red for Wu, which he duly knocks in. The special new Murphy break that isn’t supposed to leave a pot on is quantifiably NOT working so far in this match.

Wu gently splits the pack of reds with his next shot and he can pick off a few to build his lead here.

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize - MURPHY WINS FRAME 11

19:56 , Luke Baker

Wu clears a few balls and tries to lay a snooker but it’s not great and Murphy soon pots the ball he needs to seal the deal.

Shaun Murphy wins frame 11 and closes the gap to 6-5.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize

19:49 , Luke Baker

Murphy clips the pack as he pots the blue to move 72 points ahead and releases a red but blocks it with the black. He’s forced to try a plant to right middle which doesn’t come off.

But he’s 72 points ahead with only 67 remaining, so Wu needs two snookers. He’ll play on for now, trying to clear a few reds and perhaps lay a snooker on the final one but this frame should be Murphy’s.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize

19:48 , Luke Baker

The black wipes its feet on the way in but Murphy keeps the break going on 46 and he soon passes 50. He’ll need to split the remaining cluster of four reds at some point.

Pulls out a nice mid-range pot on the blue to the green pocket and he’s only a couple of pots away.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize

19:44 , Luke Baker

Nothing wrong with Shaun Murphy’s long potting. He digs out another red and follows it with a blue to get the break going. He’d love to make a telling contribution here.

The reds are in a decent position, black on its spot and pink sort of available as well.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME 10

19:40 , Luke Baker

The pink is up among the baulk colours but that’s the only potential hurdle for Wu.

NO! Misses the long pink to the yellow pocket. But wait... It careers along the top cushion, hits the jaws of the green pocket and then goes across the table into the right middle. Ha! What a fluke and what a way to bring up your first century in a world final.

A break of 103 and Wu Yize wins the second frame of the evening to lead 6-4.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize

19:37 , Luke Baker

This is another well-constructed break from Wu. Gentle cannons free the reds little by little and he hurtles towards the winning line.

Just a red along the bottom cushion to leave Murphy needing snookers and rolls it in nicely. Will this be the moment for his first century?

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize

19:33 , Luke Baker

Murphy makes 16 before breaking down and Wu then pistons a long red into the heart of the right corner pocket. The long potting has been immense so far this evening.

A nice two-ball plant keeps the break going for the Chinese star and he eradicates Murphy’s small lead. The break reaches 27 and counting.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize

19:25 , Luke Baker

Having said that, Wu can only score three points and Murphy then thumps a stinging long red down the left rail to get in himself.

This could be a lot of fun if these two keep pottting like this

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize

19:24 , Luke Baker

Oooooh, Wu Yize is feeling it this evening! Shaun Murphy’s patented break-off is supposed to prevent the opponent having a look at a long red but Wu breezily punches one in from distance.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME NINE

19:21 , Luke Baker

In answer to my previous question, no...A thin cut on the black when he’s on 82 wobbles against both jaws but doesn’t drop.

That’s a shame but still a great start to the evening for Wu Yize as he wins frame nine in one visit to lead 5-4

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize

19:18 , Luke Baker

The first session wasn’t quite as free-flowing as we expected, given the two players involved, but now they’ve settled, we may jus see some spectacular snooker this evening.

Wu hasn’t hung about in this opening frame and he quickly get to the snookers required stage, confirmed when he pots the fifth-last red.

Now it’s all about the century? Can he make his first one in a world final?

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize

19:16 , Luke Baker

Wu looking confident during this break as he quickly builds a lead of 30 points, 40 points.

Splits the pack of reds off the black on 46 but not left with anything easy. He attempts a very thin cut to left middle and it’s in the heart of the pocket. Superb pot from Wu.

This is a golden chance to win the frame now.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize

19:12 , Luke Baker

Good start to the evening for Murphy as he cuts a long red into the right corner pocket, although follows that up by missing the brown to left middle, hitting the lower jaw.

Some frustrated head shaking and cue swinging as he trudges back to his seat.

Wu Yize straight in and eager to capitalise on the mistake.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize

19:05 , Luke Baker

MC Rob Walker is in position. He’s pumped the crowd up and is about to re-introduce the players for this evening session.

Given there are nine frames to be played, one man will be ahead come the close of play but can either of them build up a telling lead ahead of day two?

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize

18:53 , Luke Baker

We’re not too far away from the 2026 World Snooker Championship final resuming for nine more frames this evening.

Shaun Murphy is locked at 4-4 with Wu Yize and they’ll be resuming in 10 minutes or so

World Snooker Championship final interrupted by protester as referee intervenes

18:28 , Luke Baker

The final of the World Snooker Championship was interrupted by a protester with referee Rob Spencer forced to intervene.

With Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy locked in a protracted safety battle in the third frame, a woman vaulted into the playing area close to the table and appeared to shout something. It was not immediately clear what her intentions were, though it appeared her comment was directed at the BBC

Spencer ensured the disturbance was short as he rushed quickly to the individual, before she was removed from the Crucible Theatre by security.

World Snooker Championship final interrupted by protester

WATCH: Wu Yize shows off his potting ability

18:01 , Luke Baker

Wu Yize wasn’t always at his best in that first session but he showed his quality with this pot in frame six.

A Wu Yize special! #WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/bgJX8Dg2QG

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 3, 2026

Wu Yize: How the boy with bad technique became a star destined to win the World Snooker Championship

17:30 , Luke Baker

Wu Yize hails from Lanzhou in the northwest of China, a city famous for its beef noodles. The dish is a clear beef broth with radish slices, chilli oil and herbs, and aside from his family, it is the thing he misses most: there are plenty of Chinese restaurants in Sheffield, but they don’t hit like home.

It is one small cost of being one of the best young snooker players in the world.

Wu moved his life to Yorkshire three years ago to be part of the growing stable of Chinese players in the city, and he could be the next superstar from the group.

The 22-year-old reached finals at the English Open and Scottish Open last season, and now the 10th seed has made it to the final of the World Snooker Championship for the first time.

Read Lawrence Ostlere’s full profile of the Chinese wonderkid

Wu Yize: How the boy with bad technique became China’s next great snooker star

WATCH: Murphy makes first century of the final

17:00 , Luke Baker

Here’s how Shaun Murphy made the first century of the day - a fantastic 109 that briefly put him in the lead against Wu Yize

Shaun Murphy takes the lead against Wu Yize in the World Snooker Championship final with a century! 💯

📺 Watch the World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/OiwIxEMBzW

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 3, 2026

End of session: Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize

16:37 , Luke Baker

An intriguing first session of this final. Wu Yize built a 3-0 lead as Shaun Murphy missed numerous chances but the 2005 world champion then hit back in style, winning four frames on the spin with breaks of 85, 98, 77 and 109 to take the lead.

However, the 22-year-old Chinese star regrouped and took the final frame of the session to level the match at 4-4.

They’ll play nine more frames this evening, from 7pm BST.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME EIGHT

16:34 , Luke Baker

Murphy forced to pot the red, and takes a black to follow, before Wu manages to knock in the yellow, leaving Murphy needing three snookers.

Shortly after he ends the pain by potting the green and Wu Yize wins frame eight to level the match at 4-4.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:28 , Luke Baker

Wu Yize doesn’t look comfortable when the frame comes down to his opponent playing for snookers. He sends the pink careering dangerously close to the middle pocket at one point.

Luckily for him, Shaun Murphy misses a couple of decent opportunities to lay some really testing snookers. It’s never been Murphy’s game, really. He’s more of a breakbuilder. But he gamely plays on, looking for some magic on the final red.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:23 , Luke Baker

Doesn’t screw the cue ball high enough off the penultimate red and has left himself a really thin cut on the black to the corner. Hits both jaws and stays out, hanging over the pocket!

That means Murphy now needs two snookers as he trails by 41 points with only 35 on. Barring shenanigans, Wu is going to level this at 4-4

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:21 , Luke Baker

Wu Yize rattles a red in the jaws of the pocket that would have made the frame safe.

Murphy pots it, fails to dislodge a red that has run safe but pots the green and does bring it off the cushion into a pottable position! Lovely shot. He needs blacks with both remaining reds (plus the colours) though to win the frame by a point.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:17 , Luke Baker

Murphy tries to flick the safe red off the left cushion but misses the cannon. Has to play safe but does bring that safe red into play by doing so. Trails 65-19.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:16 , Luke Baker

Murphy pots the first red but overscrews the cue ball and is forced to play the yellow. That removes his margin of error for the rest of the break with colours he can afford to take. Now 62 behind with 67 points on.

He’s also got one red safe on the left cushion. Does well to pot the black into the green pocket to bring it back down to its spot at least. Work to do though.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:14 , Luke Baker

Moves the break to 56 and then picks off the final loose red. He’ll need to go into the central cluster of six to free another one.

He’s too straight on the black to go into the bunch, so leaves himself a long pot into the green pocket on the red but he’s cueing over the black... A key shot here.

BRILLIANT POT! The cue is jacked up but he jabs it perfectly and the red flies in. Superb. However, he’s left with a tricky black to right middle to follow. Can’t make it. Leaves it low.

Exits the table with a lead of 65 point but there’s enough left on the table for Murphy.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize

16:09 , Luke Baker

That’s what Wu Yize can do! Blasts in a long red, followed by a superb black. Then a gentle canon off the second black to leave him plum on another red.

Brilliant start to the break by Wu, especially considering he’s lost four frames on the spin.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize - MURPHY WINS FRAME SEVEN

16:07 , Luke Baker

This is glorious from Shaun Murphy. Crunches in a mid-range red with the rest to keep the century dream alive and eventually clears to the pink for a break of 109.

A first ton of the final and from 3-0 behind, Murphy has been unstoppable. He now can’t trail at the end of this session.

Shaun Murphy wins frame seven to lead for the first time at 4-3

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize

16:02 , Luke Baker

Opts to take the pink to right corner with the rest on 44 and strokes it in. That brings it into play for the rest of the break.

Picking off the reds in the centre of the table and the winning line in this frame is hurtling into view.

There it is. Pots a pink to move 70 points ahead with only 67 on. Can he make a first century of this final?

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize

16:00 , Luke Baker

Murphy really on a roll. Striding around the table and builds his lead up beyond 40 points. Pink and black are out of commission so he’s working with the blue and doing so expertly.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize

15:54 , Luke Baker

Murphy crunches in a long red to begin frame seven. He’s hitting his straps now. Followed by a lovely pot on the green but collides with the brown, so the white stays at the baulk end.

Wu then pulls out a classy long pot of his own, cutting the red to the right corner. But a mistake, tries to flick a couple of reds free from the pack when potting the ball and the cue ball goes in-off into the corner.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize - MURPHY WINS FRAME SIX

15:51 , Luke Baker

Wu pots a red but then misses the relatively simple black. Ooohs and ahhhs from the crowd and the Chinese star looks confused by the miss.

Murphy back in and makes no mistake this time - a glorious clearance of 77 and pots a lovely black himself on the way.

The 2005 champion is rolling now and he’s drawn level from 3-0 down.

Shaun Murphy wins frame six to make it 3-3

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize

15:42 , Luke Baker

Murphy wins the safety battle and pots the red to get in amongst the balls. A counter-attack opportunity for ‘the Magician’.

He reaches 13 and looks to split the pack of reds off the black. But misses the pot! An error from Murphy as the chance goes begging.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize

15:39 , Luke Baker

Wu makes it to 23 but then takes on a double to left middle and it hits the top jaw. Very risky shot choice and he’s a bit lucky not to leave Murphy an easy starter.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize

15:35 , Luke Baker

Murphy breaks off in frame six and he’s properly in this match now. But that’s a Wu Yize special! Absolutely crunches a long red into the left corner and canons the black into a pottable position.

A class pot and maybe that will get Wu properly rolling.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize - MURPHY WINS FRAME FIVE

15:33 , Luke Baker

Murphy gets over the line and has looked very composed here. Can he go on to make the century now?

A red struggles into the left middle pocket to get to 93 and he needs a double to the same pocket on 98. It misses, so no ton but a very impressive break of 98.

Shaun Murphy wins frame five and closes the gap to 3-2

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize

15:28 , Luke Baker

Murphy has properly settled into this match now. Gets a good run of the ball early in his break and makes the most of it as the break goes beyond 40, then 50, then 60

This is looking like a frame-winning chance. Only a few more pots needed

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize

15:24 , Luke Baker

Back underway at the Crucible. Four more frames this afternoon.

Wu makes a mess of an attempted safety shot and throws his cue up suggesting the table took the ball off line. It leaves Murphy the first scoring chance of the frame.

WATCH: Murphy gets a frame on the board

15:17 , Luke Baker

A vital frame for Shaun Murphy just before the mid-session interval, narrowing the gap to 3-1

Shaun Murphy will feel a bit better after that! #WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/Wk3cLpnahS

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 3, 2026

WATCH: Wu wins important second frame

15:12 , Luke Baker

Here was the moment Shaun Murphy showed his frustration after missing a green with the rest and Wu Yize went on to clear up and win frame two

HUGE START TO THE FINAL! 🔥

Frame like this will all matter between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize.#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/gc5AH6yHHu

— WST (@WeAreWST) May 3, 2026

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize - MURPHY WINS FRAME FOUR

15:03 , Luke Baker

That’s a great way to get your first frame of the final. A break of 85, doesn’t allow Wu back to the table and he’s narrowed the gap ahead of the mid-session interval

Shaun Murphy wins frame four to get himself on the board and trails 3-1.

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize

15:01 , Luke Baker

This has been an excellent break by Shaun Murphy and he gets over the line with five reds remaining. A couple more pots and Wu Yize won’t be coming back to the table.

This was much needed by the 2005 world champion

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize

14:59 , Luke Baker

Murphy digs out a good long blue to the yellow pocket to keep the break going on 43. Smattering of applause from the Crucible crowd.

A few reds are on cushions but there’s enough in the middle of the table that he shouldn’t need to worry about the trickiest before leaving Wu needing snookers.

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize

14:56 , Luke Baker

This is a crunch frame for Shaun Murphy, the last before the mid-session interval.

He’s in first and on a break of 30 - can he finish this off cleanly and finally get a frame on the board?

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME THREE

14:49 , Luke Baker

Eventually, it’s Murphy who fouls on the pink and Wu finally gets over the line.

Wu Yize wins frame three to take a 3-0 lead

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:46 , Luke Baker

Wu leaves the blue over a pocket, so Murphy forced to pot it and now only has the pink and black left on the table.

This is looking like a forlorn hope

World Snooker Championship final interrupted by protester as referee intervenes

14:45 , Luke Baker

The final of the World Snooker Championship was interrupted by a protester with referee Rob Spencer forced to intervene.

With Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy locked in a protracted safety battle in the third frame, a woman vaulted into the playing area close to the table and appeared to shout something. It was not immediately clear what her intentions were, though it appeared her comment was directed at the BBC

Spencer ensured the disturbance was short as he rushed quickly to the individual, before she was removed from the Crucible Theatre by security.

World Snooker Championship final interrupted by protester

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:42 , Luke Baker

Now the brown potted by Murphy, tries to line up a snooker on the blue. Needs to get tight in behind pink or black... Doesn’t manage it but Wu will have to come off the cushion to make contact. And he does!

Can Murphy find a truly telling snooker to put the young Chinese star under pressure?

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:40 , Luke Baker

The frame goes beyond the 30-minute mark, I can’t imagine there’ll be too many of those in this final.

Murphy pots the green but he still needs a snooker. He’ll now try and get it on the brown. Wu just needs one pot to get over the line...

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:33 , Luke Baker

Murphy pots the final red, with black, and the yellow to try and lay a snooker on the green instead.

He’s still in there battling. Wu will be desperate just to get this frame won.

He’s a picture of referee Rob Spencer dealing with the protester a little earlier.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:27 , Luke Baker

Well, a short delay, as some sort of protester or village idiot briefly runs on to the arena floor but they’re quickly escorted away.

Wu has a pot on the red to seal the frame but rattles it out. He can’t quite kill this frame off.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:25 , Luke Baker

Murphy plays on for a little while and does get one good snooker on Wu, who is tucked in behind the yellow and can’t connect with the red.

Now it’s only one snooker required...

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:19 , Luke Baker

In fairness, Wu isn’t playing brilliantly either but so far, he’s doing enough to keep his opponent at bay.

Makes hard work of sealing this frame, potting a long red but not landing nicely on a colour. However, his single-ball potting bails him out again with a quality pot on the blue. Murphy needs two snookers and surely this frame is all but done

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:18 , Luke Baker

Given his late finish, you assumed Wu Yize might be the slow starter in this final but it’s Shaun Murphy. He’s playing very poorly so far.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:16 , Luke Baker

What is that? An absolute nothing shot from Murphy as he pots the pink but leaves himself completely out of position on the penultimate red. Nerves from ‘the Magician’?

Forced to play safe and trails 61-27. Not even a great safety shot, failing to snooker his opponent.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:15 , Luke Baker

Wu forced to pot a couple of reds to the middle as the break moves to 50 and the second one wipes it feet on the way in, wriggling in off both jaws.

Then he misses the black of the spot! I think he was focused on the canon on the pack of reds and forgot about the pot. He makes 61 and leads 61-13 but there’s enough left on the table for Murphy to pinch it.

The Englishman HAS to take one of these chances.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:11 , Luke Baker

A veritable orchard of reds for Wu and he’s picking them off one by one. The break races beyond 30 and if he keeps his concentration, this should be 3-0.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:09 , Luke Baker

A rare long pot missed by Wu as the red rattles off both jaws and the cue ball stays down the business end of the table, leaving Murphy with a thin cut to get himself going.

Aggressive shot early in the break as he screws into the pack of reds, trying to dislodge some but the cue ball gets stuck int the cluster, leaving it very awkward.

Murphy takes on the pot, with the rest, from distance but misses it to the left. Hmmmm. He only makes 13 and Wu is gifted another chance. Reds spread perfectly for the Chinese phenom.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize

14:06 , Luke Baker

You rarely see Murphy showing signs of frustration - he’s the epitome of class on (and off) the table. So that frustrated throw of the rest after the miss was very telling.

How will he respond? There’s a long way to go in this match but he won’t want to fall too far behind.

Wu breaks off in frame three and doesn’t leave a red on

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME TWO

14:03 , Luke Baker

This is a big frame for Murphy. If he loses it, he’ll be 2-0 down despite having an opportunity in both frames.

And lose it he does! Wu picks out a lovely thin cut on the pink to seal the frame. Murphy leaves the arena to compose himself.

Wu Yize wins frame two and doubles his lead to 2-0.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize

14:01 , Luke Baker

The pink is the only problem ball for Wu, near the left cushion. He tries to dislodge it off the blue but flicks it closer to the rail and then snookers himself on the potting angle with the jaw of the middle pocket! Remarkable.

So has to play safe. Wu leads 54-50 with pink and black left. This frame is coming down to the wire.

13:59 , Luke Baker

Murphy looking composed here and playing at a good speed - averagin 18 seconds per shot during this break, lower than his tournament average of 25.

He eradicates the deficit, drawing level with Wu on 36 points with a few reds left. There’s one that looks tricky up towards the yellow pocket.

Break reaches 50 and he has to play the green on the stretch with the rest to try and get on the last red... Misses it by a long way! He appeared distracted by something in the crowd before the shot.

He’s disgusted, throws the rest down on the table. Leads 50-36 but Wu Yize might be able to clean up here.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize

13:53 , Luke Baker

Wu is never really in prime position and, almost inevitably, he breaks down on 36. Murphy has a plant and he can counter-attack here.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize

13:48 , Luke Baker

WOW! There’s been a lot of talk about Shaun Murphy’s break-off this week. He’s eschewed the traditional break for a riskier one, where he hits the third red up, goes close to the corner pocket and the cue ball often lands behind the yellow.

But he makes a complete mess of that one, the cue ball hits the jaws of the bottom corner after splitting the red, leaving Wu bang in the balls That’s the danger of the break-off.

What a golden scoring chance for the young man here. He gets the black back on its spot as his score moves to 14 and there’s plenty of reds on the open

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME ONE

13:45 , Luke Baker

Murphy is eventually forced to pot green, brown and blue as he misses a couple of chances to lay a snooker. So now he’ll try to get the one snooker needed on the final pink. It becomes really tricky with only two balls on the table.

He can’t do it and Wu bangs in the pink, so Wu Yize wins the opening frame of the 2026 World Championship final.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize

13:37 , Luke Baker

Ah, Murphy snatches at the yellow and misses it on the low side. Leaves it for Wu to pot and the 2005 world champion now needs a snooker. Wu leads 66-38 with 25 points left on the table.

Looks like the younger man will escape this opening frame with a victory.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize

13:35 , Luke Baker

A tricky pot on the final red, into the yellow pocket and it rattles out. Great attempt but it does roll safe. So Wu leads by 34 point as he comes back to the table, there’s still 35 on.

Can Murphy win the safety battle and force another chance?

Here’s an opportunity. A long pot on the red but the white is tight to the top cushion... GOT IT! Sublime pot and he’s on the black. The colours aren’t easy but Murphy’s got a chance here

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize

13:33 , Luke Baker

Good visit from Wu Yize. Leaves the table with his lead at 64-6. There’s just enough points left on the table for Murphy to win but he’d need all reds and blacks plus the colours, a couple of which are on cushions.

The Englishman is giving it a good go. Goes up and down the table taking the first few reds with blacks.

This would be some steal...

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize

13:27 , Luke Baker

Wu runs out of position on 13 but is soon back in amongst it and building a lead. Out beyond 30 points now. Can he wrap the frame up at this visit?

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize

13:22 , Luke Baker

Murphy back in with another red but then misses a simple blue off the spot, hitting the top jaw. That’s a surprise.

First chance of the final for Wu after an easy enough starter red

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize

13:17 , Luke Baker

Lovely start from Shaun Murphy, cuts a long red into the left corner pocket. Great pot. Doesn’t land nicely on a colour, so just rolls up behind the green.

Wu Yize trying to come off three cushions and roll up to the pack of reds. Comes up short the first time, so gives away four penalty points but all good second time around.

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize

13:15 , Luke Baker

Various bits of admin before we can start - the handshake, posing for photos with the trophy, then the coin toss.

A bit of a faff as we decide who will call it, Wu eventually calling heads. And the Chinese star will break off in the first frame.

Let’s go!

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize

13:13 , Luke Baker

Ok, here we go! The players are just being introduced to the crowd by human Energizer bunny, MC Rob Walker.

Wu Yize is first up. A great reception for the Chinese star, who Rob describes as a “lean, mean potting machine”. The chants of “Wuuuuuuuuu” go up from the crowd.

Shaun Murphy is then introduced - roars from the crowd as he strolls down the steps looking relaxed.

The 2026 World Snooker Championship final is about to get underway.

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize format

13:09 , Luke Baker

So, how will this final work? We’re in for a treat, with a best-of-35 contest lined up over the next two days - 18 frames is the target for victory.

Here’s the session times:

Sunday 3 May

1pm: Session one - 8 frames

7pm: Session two - 9 frames

Monday 4 May

1pm: Session three - 8 frames

7pm: Session four - 9 frames

Mark Allen’s moment of heartbreak defines Crucible semi-final classic for the ages

13:01 , Luke Baker

In a semi-final that looked set to be remembered for the farcical scenes that led to the longest frame in Crucible history, Mark Allen produced a defining moment so heartbreaking that the 100-minute marathon became a mere footnote.

Allen had one foot and four-and-a-half toes in the World Snooker Championship final when he potted a spectacular long pink while leading Wu Yize 16-15 and landed perfectly on the final black. Black on its spot, cue ball perfectly positioned – it’s a simple pot that Allen makes 100 times out of 100. Except on this one, most important occasion.

Read Luke Baker’s full report from a semi-final of high drama:

Mark Allen’s moment of heartbreak defines Crucible semi-final classic for the ages

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize

12:54 , Luke Baker

What a final we have in store here. Shaun Murphy is already a world champion, having won the title in 2005 but, 21 years on, he’s desperate to join an elite club by becoming a multiple world champion.

He’s lost three finals since that 2005 triumph, so will it be fourth time lucky for the 43-year-old Englishman.

Standing in his way is 22-year-old Chinese wonderkid Wu Yize. A potting machine, Wu is trying to become just the second Chinese world champion, 12 months after Zhao Xintong made history as the first.

He’ll be fearless, especially after coming back from the brink to beat Mark Allen in the semi-finals, and given both men’s propensity for attacking snooker, this one should be a high-scoring thriller.

The lucky underpants that won Shaun Murphy his first world snooker title

12:50 , Luke Baker

Shaun Murphy has revealed that a pair of lucky underpants helped him win his first World Snooker Championship title, yet it wasn’t him who was wearing them.

Murphy begins the final of the 2026 tournament against 22-year-old Wu Yize this afternoon but his first world title came back in 2005, when he was a relatively unknown 22-year-old himself.

Having come through qualifying to reach the Crucible, Murphy blitzed the field with his attacking snooker, seeing off Chris Small, John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon before beating Matthew Stevens 18-16 in the final.

Twenty-one years later, the now 43-year-old has revealed the victory may have been down to his nephew Joshua, who was just a child at the time and ensured that his uncle kept winning by wearing the same underwear each day he was at the Crucible.

The lucky pants that won Shaun Murphy his world title – and they weren’t his own

Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize

12:49 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the 2026 World Snooker Championship final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize.

After a hugely dramatic day of semi-final action, can the final live up to the same standard?

Stick with us to find out