Wu Yize has revealed that snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan sent him a crucial text message during the World Snooker Championship final, helping him turn the match around. The 22-year-old Chinese player defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling deciding frame at the Crucible, the first such finish in a final since 2002.
A Tournament of Thrills
Wu's path to the title was nothing short of spectacular. He overcame Lei Peifan, Mark Selby, Hossein Vafaei, and Mark Allen, with his semi-final victory over Allen also coming in a deciding frame. Throughout the event, Wu displayed relentless attacking snooker, sinking long pots and constructing big breaks from seemingly impossible positions.
The Turning Point
However, the final took a tense turn on Monday afternoon. After leading 10-7 at the end of Sunday's session, Wu wobbled in the third session, allowing Murphy to win five consecutive frames. The Englishman looked poised to take all eight frames in the session, but Wu managed to halt the momentum, winning the final three frames with two half-centuries.
Wu credited O'Sullivan's advice for his recovery. 'At that time my goal was to extend the lead. I wasn't playing really that bad, but I wasn't focussed to do what I do best,' Wu told the Snooker Club podcast. 'I went out to try to give myself some time to cool down. Ronnie texted me telling me to stay focussed. To be calm and also to try to play to my own strengths. I was really happy I was able to do that.'
O'Sullivan's Mentorship
The seven-time world champion has acted as a mentor for Wu over the past season, practicing with him before his maiden ranking title at the International Championship in November. O'Sullivan had predicted Wu would become world champion and world number one, a prophecy that has already partially come true.
'He's been helping me so much,' Wu said of O'Sullivan. 'He taught me how to handle the situation during the match, how to handle different situations on the table. It's definitely experience I've learned from him, I benefit from the time I spent with him a lot.'
In February, O'Sullivan told the World Grand Prix: 'If I like them I pass knowledge on. If I don't they don't get two minutes of my time. I choose the ones I feel a bit of a connection to. I think Wu Yize is going to be world number one, I'd give him three years, definitely going to be world champion very, very soon, phenomenal player.'
He added: 'I practiced with him for two or three days in Hong Kong not long ago and it's not until you practice with someone that you can really appreciate how good they are. After day two I was like, this kid is really special. I'd just love to go and see him fulfil his potential as a professional. He's only 22. I expect him to do a lot of great things in snooker.'
While O'Sullivan is not always accurate with his predictions about young talent, this time he was spot on.
