China’s Wu Yize reportedly shared a single bed with his father in a windowless flat as he sacrificed his home life to pursue his snooker dreams.
Now, just a few years later, Wu is the world champion after beating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in the final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theater on Monday.
Wu, who is 22 but looks younger, is following in his footsteps Zhao Xintong, who last year became the first Chinese player to win snooker’s most coveted prize.
“(Zhao’s success) definitely made me believe in myself more because he made history,” Wu said.
Those in the know have long advised Wu on tip.
In February, seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan said the Chinese ace would be world number one within three years.
O’Sullivan called him a “phenomenal player”.
In China, Wu has earned the nicknames “Little Wu” and “Priest Wu”, the latter mainly due to a previous hairstyle that people say made him look like a priest.
Others still use it because it also reflects his calmness and calm demeanor around the table.
Away from home
Wu was born on October 14, 2003, in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, in rugged northwest China.
Wu, whose idol is O’Sullivan, was taken by his father to a snooker hall for the first time when he was seven.
His talent was evident, and four years later his father, who ran an antiques business, took him to train in Yushan on the other side of the country.
The International Billiards Academy is a talent factory for China’s future stars and also has the 4,000-seat Yushan Sports Center and a World Billiards Museum.
Then, at the age of 16, came the move to Sheffield, the northern English city considered the home of snooker.
It was not easy, far from home and to master a language, culture and food that was completely new to him.
His father was with him, but money was scarce.
“His father gave up his job, I don’t think either of them could speak English when they came,” Rob Walker, broadcaster and master of ceremonies for World Snooker, told Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.
“They shared a single bed in a windowless one-bedroom apartment for three years because they were determined that he would follow this dream.”
Even now, Wu’s mother stays in China and only visits him occasionally.
Wu’s talent, diligence and commitment soon began to pay off, but he missed home and Chinese food, especially Lanzhou’s famous beef dumplings.
In 2021 he turned professional and reached the last 32 of the UK Championship.
In 2022 he was named Rookie of the Year and in 2024 he reached his first ranking final.
Last year his big breakthrough came when he defeated Zhao, Judd Trump and John Higgins in the final to win his first ranking title, at the International Championships.
Feeling of pressure
Although he joins Zhao as a world champion from China, Wu has not forgotten his roots.
He has set up a snooker hall named after him in his hometown of Lanzhou and occasionally gives advice to young players.
Speaking to reporters in Sheffield earlier, Wu said he would buy a house if he won the world title.
“At first there wasn’t much prize money,” Wu said, according to the BBC.
“So there was definitely a lot of pressure and there was also a lot for myself to improve in terms of my game, so I was definitely feeling the pressure at the time.”
