Colombia secured a 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan in their World Cup opener, highlighted by a spectacular goal from Daniel Muñoz. Despite travel chaos and a slow start, Colombia's brilliance shone through, though questions remain about their overall form.
Krunal Pandya, a five-time IPL champion, reflects on his pre-cricket life as a passport agent and car broker, attributing his resilience and ability to thrive under pressure to these early experiences.
Krunal Pandya, a five-time IPL champion, reflects on his pre-cricket life as a passport agent and car broker, crediting these experiences for his resilience and ability to thrive under pressure.
Wu Yize became the second-youngest World Snooker Champion after a dramatic 18–17 win over Shaun Murphy at the Crucible, earning £500,000. The 22-year-old reflected on his family’s sacrifices and his early struggles in Sheffield, where he moved at 16. He now plans to invest his prize money in property in Sheffield rather than luxury spending, marking a grounded start to his reign.
In the history of the game, there had only ever been one snooker world champion from China before Monday – then Wu Yize doubled that number at the Crucible Theatre in thrilling fashion. An 18-17 victory over Shaun Murphy, hailed as marking the “golden era of Chinese snooker”, has propelled the 22-year-old to superstardom in his home country, with the hashtag “Wu Yize wins the World Championship” getting 40 million views on social media platform Weibo, where it topped the list of trending topics...
Wu Yize became snooker’s second straight world champion from China after beating Shaun Murphy in a dramatic final-frame decider at the Crucible Theatre on Monday. With his 18-17 victory, the 22-year-old Wu is the second-youngest winner of the worlds after Stephen Hendry at age 21 in 1990. Wu follows in the footsteps of Zhao Xintong, who 12 months ago became the first-ever champion from Asia in a milestone moment for a game whose stronghold has always been in Britain. “All of a sudden, the...
Wu takes title 18-17 with break of 91Becomes second-youngest champion at age of 22As the decisive pot went in at around 10.30pm on Monday, and Wu Yize punched the Crucible air and etched his name into snookering immortality, it was hard not to imagine that the sport had just changed in front of our eyes for ever.If Zhao Xintong broke through the glass ceiling for Chinese snooker 12 months ago, then the exploits of the newest Crucible king may have just shattered it into a thousand pieces. The boy who came to England as a 16-year-old with his father to pursue his dreams, living in a windowless flat in Sheffield with barely any money to his name, is the champion of the world. Continue reading...
Wu claims title 18-17 with decisive break of 85The 22-year-old is the second-youngest champion everAs the decisive pot went in at around 10.30pm on Monday, and Wu Yize punched the Crucible air and etched his name into snookering immortality, it was hard not to imagine that the sport had just changed in front of our eyes for ever.If Zhao Xintong broke through the glass ceiling for Chinese snooker 12 months ago, then the exploits of the newest Crucible king may have just shattered it into a thousand pieces. The boy who came to England as a 16-year-old with his father to pursue his dreams, living in a windowless flat in Sheffield with barely any money to his name, is the champion of the world. Continue reading...
Wu Yize stands on the brink of snooker history at the World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield, holding a 10-7 lead over Shaun Murphy. The 22-year-old from Gansu needs just three more frames to become only the second Chinese player to win the title, after Zhao Xintong. A victory would make him the second youngest champion ever, after Stephen Hendry in 1990, and earn him the £500,000 winner's cheque while propelling him to fourth in the world rankings.
A female spectator was ejected from the Crucible Theatre during the World Snooker Championship final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize after jumping over the barrier and shouting about TV licences in the third frame. The woman swore while saying 'Nobody pays their TV licence anyway, who pays their TV licence?' before referee Rob Spencer stopped her and security escorted her out. She will likely face a ban from future World Snooker events. This follows a similar incident in Saturday's semi-final where a male spectator was ejected for shouting about Epstein files. Multiple disruptions have occurred during this year's championship, including issues with phone usage.
Shaun Murphy recovered from 3-0 down to draw level at 4-4 against Wu Yize in the World Championship final at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. The match was briefly interrupted when a spectator jumped over the barrier in the third frame before security escorted her out. Murphy, aiming for a record 21-year gap between his first and second world titles, fought back with breaks of 98, 77 and 109 to lead before Wu restored parity.
Shaun Murphy recovered from 3-0 down to draw level at 4-4 against Wu Yize in the first session of their World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The match was briefly interrupted when a female spectator jumped over the barrier before being escorted out by security. The 22-year-old Wu had dominated early with breaks of 51 and 61, but Murphy responded with runs of 98, 77 and 109 to take a 4-3 lead before Wu restored parity. Murphy is aiming to set a new record for the longest gap between first and second titles, 21 years after his 2005 triumph.
Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize are locked at 4-4 after the first session of their World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Wu Yize dominated early, building a 3-0 lead, but Murphy produced a stunning comeback with breaks of 85, 98, 77 and 109 to level the match. The final session resumes at 7pm.
A preview of the World Snooker Championship final between former champion Shaun Murphy and 22-year-old challenger Wu Yize. Murphy brings smooth, natural style seeking a second world title, while Wu arrives as a fearless improvisational talent who has defeated Mark Selby and Mark Allen. The article frames the match as a clash between "the legend or the future legend" while declaring the real winner already clear: the fans.
Wu Yize became only the third Chinese player to reach the World Snooker Championship final after beating Mark Allen 17-16 in a dramatic semi-final at the Crucible. The 34th player to reach the final in Sheffield will face Shaun Murphy in Sunday's showpiece, having recovered from nerves to overturn a tense match where Allen missed a crucial black. Allen, 40, has now lost all three of his Crucible semi-finals.
Shaun Murphy secured a 17-15 victory over John Higgins to reach the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible. Meanwhile, the semi-final between Wu Yize and Mark Allen remains tied at 11-11 heading into the final session.
Wu Yize and Mark Allen finished locked at 11-11 in their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre. The Chinese 22-year-old made three centuries including a 142 opening break, while the 40-year-old Northern Irishman responded with breaks of 56, 85 and 99 to level at 10-10 before the final frame ended all square. They return for the decisive final session at 19:00 BST on Saturday, with Allen attempting to become the first Northern Irish finalist since Dennis Taylor in 1985.
A power outage at the Crucible Theatre interrupted BBC’s live coverage of the 2026 World Snooker Championship semi-final between Mark Allen and Wu Yize for 12 minutes. BBC issued an apology, and despite the disruption, Allen regained his focus, leveling the match. The semi-final remains tightly contested heading into the final sessions.
The World Championship semi-final between John Higgins and Shaun Murphy is tied at 8-8 after an enthralling second session at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. Four-time champion Higgins, who turns 51 next month, and 2005 winner Murphy, seeking to end a 21-year wait for his second Crucible crown, will resume their best-of-33-frames match on Friday at 19:00 BST. In other semi-final action, China's Wu Yize holds a 6-2 lead over Mark Allen.
Wu Yize took control of his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Mark Allen, reeling off the closing four frames to open up a 6-2 lead. The 22-year-old from China produced a clinical performance including runs of 78 and 64, while a power outage interrupted Thursday's evening session. In the other semi-final, Shaun Murphy and John Higgins are locked at 4-4 after the 2005 champion let slip a 3-1 lead.
Chinese snooker player Wu Yize has reached the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship for the first time after a 13-8 victory over Hossein Vafaei. He is set to face Mark Allen in the next round at the Crucible Theatre.
Shaun Murphy defeated defending champion Zhao Xintong 13-10 to reach the World Championship semi-finals, ending the Chinese player's hopes of becoming the only first-time winner to retain the Crucible crown. The 43-year-old Englishman will face 51-year-old John Higgins in a repeat of the 2009 final, with Higgins becoming the oldest semi-finalist since Ray Reardon in 1985. Mark Allen also reached the last four with a 13-11 win over Barry Hawkins.
Shaun Murphy defeated defending champion Zhao Xintong 13-10 to reach the World Snooker Championship semi-finals in Sheffield, becoming the 21st player to fall victim to the so-called Crucible curse. The 43-year-old Murphy won four of the first five frames in the final session to overturn an 8-8 deadlock. Meanwhile, Mark Allen also secured a semi-final spot with a 13-11 victory over Barry Hawkins after Hawkins committed a crucial blunder in the deciding frame.
Shaun Murphy defeated defending champion Zhao Xintong 13-10 to reach the World Snooker Championship semi-finals, becoming the 21st player to fall victim to the Crucible curse - first-time winners who failed to defend their crown. Murphy won four of the first five frames in the final session to overturn an 8-8 deadlock. Meanwhile, Mark Allen beat Barry Hawkins 13-11 after Hawkins made an unforgivable blunder in the closing stages.
