Wu Yize of China took a 10-7 lead over England's Shaun Murphy after the opening day of the world snooker championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The best-of-35 frames final features the 22-year-old Wu against Murphy, who previously won the tournament in 2005.
Wu reached the final after a dramatic semifinal victory over Northern Ireland's Mark Allen. Wu edged a tight 17-16 battle, coming back from the brink of defeat three times to secure the win. This victory ensures that China has a World Championship finalist for the second successive year.
China continues to be a growing force in snooker, providing 11 of the 32 players in the world championship. Wu aims to emulate compatriot Zhao Xintong, who became the first Asian world champion last year. The final match concluded as Wu edged a tight battle against former champion Shaun Murphy in a deciding frame thriller.