World Snooker champion Wu Yize reveals emotional plan for £500,000 winnings after triumph over Shaun Murphy
Wu Yize defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a pulsating final at the Crucible
A new superstar has been born in the sport of snooker with Wu Yize becoming the youngest person to win the World Championship in more than 30 years.
The 22-year-old, who was an outsider heading into the tournament, defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a compelling final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield - making him the second youngest winner in World Championship history after Stephen Hendry at 21 years and 106 days back in 1990.
Yize becomes just the second player from Asia to reign supreme at the Crucible Theatre, following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Zhao Xintong, who achieved the feat a year earlier.
The World Championship triumph marks a poignant moment in the life of Yize, who relocated to the UK from his home city of Lanzhou aged 16, with his father.
He lived with his father in a windowless flat in the Steel City and attempted to pursue his dream amid concerns over the health of his mother.
"My mum wasn't in very good health condition for a long time," he said. "During that time we were in Sheffield, she has been in hospital a lot. She is forever a source of strength to me.
"She is feeling much better now. This is the second time she has visited me in the UK. I think in the future I will take her more to be by my side.
"She sacrificed everything for me. At that time she told me 'don't come back home, I can manage everything'. It was the second year I was playing in the UK.
"At that time my ranking was very low so it was a crucial time for me to achieve some good results and keep my professional status. She means everything to me."
Yize had never progressed beyond the first round before this year’s tournament but has won plenty of plaudits for the way he dispatched of big name stars like Mark Selby and Hossein Vafaei and Mark Allen among others.
Seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan has previously waxed lyrical about the youngsters talents and has even taken him under his wing in recent months.
‘He's the phenomenal talent,’ said O’Sullivan in an earlier interview.
Yize’s victory has propelled him to stardom, particularly back home where China is currently enjoying a golden era in the sport.
When asked how he plans to celebrate, he says he’s simply thinking about resting and his family.
“I just want to have a good sleep. I was feeling the nerves throughout the full match, right now I just want to go to bed,” Yize said via Sports Bloom.
He went on to discuss what he’ll do with the prize money. “Buy a house and take my parents travelling. There are many things I’d like to buy.
“My parents are the true champions. They are the source of my strength. I love them so much."