Arabic version: وو ييزي يتقدم على شون ميرفي في نهائي بطولة العالم للبلياردو

Wu Yize opened up a 10-7 lead over Shaun Murphy in the World Snooker Championship final, positioning himself to become the second-youngest player to be crowned a Crucible champion. The 22-year-old is three months younger than Murphy was at the time of his only world title to date in 2005 and would sit only behind Stephen Hendry, who was 21 when he triumphed for the first time in 1990. According to BBC News, Wu’s performance has raised expectations for a potential victory on Monday.

The final resumed at 4-4 after a brief afternoon session interruption caused by a spectator jumping the barrier. Wu made a scintillating start to the evening, achieving breaks of 82 and 103 to take a two-frame lead. Although Murphy managed to reduce the deficit with a break of 72, he appeared to be struggling to stem the flow of his opponent.

Wu’s ability to knock in a barrage of long pots helped him enjoy runs of 89 and 66 as he won three of the next four frames, despite distractions from the audience, including another spectator being ejected for a phone alarm during play. Murphy, however, fought back to win the 16th frame, narrowing Wu’s lead to 9-7. In the concluding frame of the session, Wu showcased his talent with a remarkable break of 91, ending the day with a healthy overnight advantage.

The best-of-35 final will continue on Monday at 13:00 BST, broadcast live on BBC Two. Experts in the sport, including seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, noted the challenges Murphy faces. Hendry remarked on Murphy’s potential to win frames quickly, while also advising Wu to remain grounded and focused as he heads into the final day of play.