THE MAGICAL 2026 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
I think anyone can be forgiven for having needed a few days after the thrilling 17 days of snooker we had at the Crucible this year. Especially in my case, with the long trip back home: two-hour train back to London and then 12-hour flight back to São Paulo.
But here I am now - not yet fully recovered from jet lag - to reflect on one of the most iconic championships we've had in years.
The last three World Championships were a bit of "one-offs" with new champions and unexpected runs to the finals and semifinals.
It felt different this year though, when a record-equalling 15 out of 16 seeds made it through round one. However, a phenomenal round two was a hint to something we didn't yet know at the time, that this was going to be a drama-filled championship like no other. In the bottom half, all former champions fell (Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Mark Selby and Judd Trump), while in the top half every winner was a former champion (Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins and Neil Robertson).
I was in fact on my way to the airport when John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan were playing the last few frames of a match that became an instant Crucible classic, won 13-12 by John Higgins in what was surely one of the highest standard matches in this long-going rivalry.
I arrive in London during the quarterfinals' first day and stayed the night, ready to get to Sheffield in the morning of the second quarterfinals' day, the day we get to know all four semifinalists. Unfortunately, I wasn't granted a media pass unlike my previous visits, but I still had a few tickets and I know quite a few people within the snooker community by now and even a few locals from Sheffield - I was determined to meet even more and to enjoy more of Sheffield outside the Crucible this time. Sure I did, the atmosphere on Tudor Square that Wednesday was brilliant, a packed crowd watched on the big screen as Shaun Murphy beat title favourite Zhao Xintong, 13-10.
That moment was very big because, although Zhao clearly felt pressure in that match, he had been starting to look comfortable during his victory in a blockbuster second round against Ding Junhui (one that broke viewing figures records in China).
That night was one of many that we went far beyond 1am in the local pubs. And what's funny is that (and you can ask for eyewitnesses lol) I was all week at the pub saying this is the year we'd get a decider in the final. Obviously now I could simply say I felt it was coming, but the truth is that it just doesn't happen at the Crucible. 35 frames, 4 sessions, 2 days, eventually someone will draw distance - no wonder we had only ever had three deciders in 49 previous finals, with the last one being 24 years ago.
On we went, and for the first session of the semifinals (one between John Higgins and Shaun Murphy) I would experience the one-table setup for the first time. I had been inside before (even for the Trophy Ceremony in 2024) because of the media accreditation, but I had never sat there to watch the matches.
And although I'm a big fan of the two-tables setup, I now understand the difference. The silence, the focus, the atmosphere, and what's at stake... It's all so magnified when there's just one table out there.
As it was, I happened to be in for the final session of that match as well, and when the score was 15-15 I was so excited at the chance of watching a Crucible decider live for the first time (for all the sessions I had watched in there before, including the multi-table setup, I had never seen one). And it was really close, because when trailing 15-16 Higgins was on a break of 50 when he missed a black off the spot, allowing Murphy to clear up and win the match 17-15, just avoiding the decider.
I was gutted for not getting my decider, but little did I know...
I was in as well for the decisive session of Mark Allen vs Wu Yize, as well. Having played the infamous 100-minute frame earlier in the match, which turned out to be the longest in Crucible history, they started the session locked at 11-11, two frames behind schedule. Therefore, this could be a long night.
However, when Allen finally pulled away at 16-14 it looked like I wouldn't get my decider after all. Allen couldn't convert chances in the 31st frame though, and what happened in the 32nd frame is something I'll never forget and he'll do well to recover from: Allen missed an easy final red when in with a good chance to win, Wu then couldn't convert when missing a mid-distance pink (a shot he nailed all tournament long), and Allen after potting the pink from distance and landing straight on the black missed it off its spot and left it hanging for Wu to bring it to a decider.
I'd get my decider after all, and I couldn't believe how loud the place was. There were many Mark Allen fans there, including his team in the balcony which were very loud all match (and looked shocked after that miss). The atmosphere after he potted the pink was unbelievable, and he didn't bother to wait for the place to calm down before getting down to play the black. Some also say he should've had his bridge hand on the table (which I agree, especially since he's got a very short bridge anyway), but still there should be no excuse to miss that black.
He even got the first chance in the decider, but ran out of position and once Wu had a good chance he took it.
Then came the final, Shaun Murphy vs Wu Yize. Murphy going for his fifth final, trying to win a second 21 years after his triumph when he was 22 - the same age Wu is now, looking to win the World Championship as only his second ever ranking title.
I was in for the first and third sessions of this match, and although I did not have a ticket for the fourth session, Tudor Square was the next big thing: packed until the very end.
There were quite a few moments in the final where we were thinking, 'this could be key', 'this could be where he pulls away'. But every time either Murphy or Wu would hit back.
In the final frame of day one (or day 16 if you like) Wu Yize made a brilliant clearance with flawless cueball control to go 10-7 overnight. That looked big, but at the start of day two Murphy won five in a row to now lead 12-10. And I must admit, I was in the crowd at the time thinking that's where Shaun would pull away and maybe win 18-12, 18-11.
But maybe because of his age or maybe because he'd already made it farther than he thought he could, Wu Yize was fearless and won three in a row at the end of that session to keep a 13-12 lead coming into the final session.
When the final session began, Wu took the first frame and that felt huge at the time, too. 14-12. But Murphy quickly responded with two frames to make it 14-all and, despite losing the next, he levelled again in great fashion - Wu had made a 70 break but Murphy still stole frame 30 with a break of 65.
They were locked at 15-15, but there were no more intervals and Wu had just taken a big hit.
The players would've been forgiven for starting to miss a few, but what followed was an unbelievable standard of play: 56 from Wu, 131 from Murphy, 91 from Wu, 75 from Murphy. 17-17. After a 24-year long wait, we'd have only the fourth ever Crucible Final Decider.
Murphy did pot the first balls, but couldn't keep position and then saw himself hampered by the yellow after Wu Yize attempted a shot to nothing. All he could do was play a containing safety, but fearless Wu went for a red in the left middle with the cueball tight to the black cushion. He got it then followed with a brilliant 85 break that made him World Champion, superb under pressure.
Many things impressed me about Wu Yize, the youngest World Champion for 36 years. His long-potting is just second to none, his cueball control under pressure is phenomenal, but really what caught my eye was his "no-hesitation snooker". Every time there was a shot to be played he didn't hang around looking for other options like most players do, he just gets down and plays the right shots without considering the consequences. He doesn't even look at potting angles, he's a natural, one that doesn't come by snooker too often.
Naturally, many will raise comparisons with Zhao Xintong - and that could actually turn out to be a great rivalry in upcoming years. Wu's definitely got age on his side, but it's a totally different scenario since Wu's won the World Championship at 22 during his breakthrough season and Zhao was already 28 when he won the World Championship, four years after he'd already won the UK Championship. We don't know if Wu will follow Zhao and simply win four tournaments next season, but regardless he's already the World Champion and it feels like he's still nowhere near as good as he'll become in due time. Scary! Exciting times!
For everyone that I met in Sheffield I would like to thank your company and really hope to see you all again this time next year! Snooker is lucky to have such a great and welcoming community, and that makes the experience even better!
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