At Nanjing’s WST International Championship final, 22-year-old prodigy Wu Yize held his nerve against four-time world champion John Higgins, racing to a 10-6 victory that marked his first ranking title.
The Chinese mainland star announced himself in style with two century breaks in the opening session, including a blistering 137 that edged him 5-4 ahead. Higgins, a household name for a generation of snooker fans, simply couldn’t match Wu’s precision under pressure.
After the break, Wu kept the pressure on, posting an 87 break to extend his lead to 7-4. His calm, calculated approach contrasted sharply with Higgins’s more traditional style, highlighting a shift in momentum towards snooker’s next generation.
Wu sealed the win in emphatic fashion, landing another century to wrap up the match and etch his name in the sport’s record books. The breakthrough performance catapults him from world number 22 to number 13, setting the stage for more big performances.
From a rising Rookie of the Year in 2022 to a ranking champion in 2024, Wu Yize’s rapid ascent underscores the growing influence of young talent from the Chinese mainland on the global snooker scene.
Reference(s):
China's Wu Yize stuns Higgins in Nanjing to win first ranking title
cgtn.com
