A stunning comeback in the snooker world left former world champion Dennis Taylor in disbelief. “I thought Mark Allen was heading to the final,” Taylor exclaimed after the 2026 World Snooker Championship semifinal concluded in the early hours. “I can’t believe he lost. How did Wu Yize manage to turn it around?”
Chinese rising star Wu Yize found himself on the brink of defeat, trailing 14-16 against Mark Allen. Yet he saved two consecutive match points, forced a decider, and completed a single-frame turnaround to win 17-16, booking his place in the final.
The semifinal was a nail-biter from start to finish. Wu led 6-2 after the first session, but Allen fought back to level at 7-7 in the second. The third session ended 11-11, and the fourth saw them tied at 14-14. Allen then seized control, and in the 32nd frame, a missed black ball when he was on the verge of victory handed Wu an extraordinary lifeline. The young Chinese made no mistake in the decider.
“It’s incredible. I’m still trying to process it,” Wu said, visibly emotional. “I’ve never been so close to defeat in such a big match under this kind of pressure. Winning feels like a rollercoaster. I can’t put it into words—you have to stand there and feel it. That’s the beauty of sport.”
Six-time world champion Steve Davis praised Wu’s composure under pressure. “What a player, what a performance. He was on the verge of losing multiple times and had to sit there and endure the agony. But when the chance came, he stayed calm, kept a clear mind, and played solidly.”
A gracious Allen admitted, “I had two or three clear chances to finish it. Missing that black means I didn’t deserve to be in the final. I usually handle pressure well, but that shot was pure nerves.” Allen, who has now lost three World Championship semifinals, wished Wu well: “I hope he becomes world champion. Despite my disappointment, the right man is in the final. His style is great for the sport—his long potting is exceptional, and he seems unfazed by pressure.”
The 22-year-old has already upset Mark Selby and Mark Allen en route to the final. Selby had called Wu the tournament’s biggest dark horse, while opponent Vafaei compared him to a video game. “I barely made mistakes, but he was incredible—I felt like I was playing against a machine,” Vafaei said.
The BBC highlighted Wu’s journey: “Wu Yize has proven his decision to move to the UK at 16 was right. He once lived in a windowless apartment, sharing a bed with his father, chasing his dream. Now, he’s one step away from the sport’s highest honor and a £500,000 prize.”
In the final, Wu will face Shaun Murphy, who defeated John Higgins 17-15 in the other semifinal. Murphy also beat three Chinese players—Fan Zhengyi, Xiao Guodong, and Zhao Xintong—along the way. Betting odds slightly favor Wu. Former champion Kyren Wilson commented, “If Wu wins, China will have back-to-back world champions for the first time. That would be incredible. But Shaun Murphy won’t give it up easily.” Steve Davis added, “The final will be a firecracker. Both will attack, and it may come down to who controls their cue ball better. Murphy might have preferred facing Allen, but Wu has shown immense resilience.”
Wu and Murphy have faced each other twice this season. Wu lost 4-5 in the Xi’an Grand Prix in October 2025 but won 6-2 in the Masters in January 2026. With Wu still evolving, the final feels like an open encounter.
“I have confidence—I’ll give everything,” Wu said. “But I’m not putting too much pressure on myself mentally.”
