World champion Wu Yize has clinched his first ranking title since his Crucible triumph, overcoming Yuan Sijun with a 10-5 victory in an all-Chinese final at the Shenzhen Open. The 22-year-old's successful week sees him ascend to a career-best second place in the world rankings, trailing only Zhao Xintong.
This achievement marks a historic moment for Chinese snooker, as the country now boasts the top two players in the world rankings for the first time. Wu, who became the second-youngest player to win snooker's most coveted title at the Crucible in May, showcased a composed performance against surprise finalist Yuan at the Bao'an Sports Centre.
Wu established an early 3-1 lead with breaks of 117 and 80 after demolishing Judd Trump 6-1 in the semi-finals. Although Yuan, playing in his first ranking final, briefly took the lead by winning three consecutive frames, Wu responded with two half-centuries to end the opening session 5-4 ahead. In the evening session, Wu extended his control with breaks of 74 and 62, reaching 8-5, and ultimately secured the trophy and the £177,000 top prize.