Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has heaped lavish praise on emerging Chinese talent Wu Yize, confidently predicting the 22-year-old will become world champion and reach the pinnacle of the sport as world number one in the very near future.
A Star on the Swift Rise
Wu Yize has made remarkably rapid progress since turning professional as a teenager in 2021, already securing a place among the world's elite top 16 players. His ascent accelerated dramatically this season after clinching his maiden ranking title at the International Championship in November, where he defeated the seasoned John Higgins in a memorable final.
Further demonstrating his growing stature, Wu made an impressive debut at the prestigious Masters tournament. There, he secured victories over Shaun Murphy and Xiao Guodong, eventually bowing out in a tight 6-5 semi-final clash against the eventual champion, Kyren Wilson.
O'Sullivan's Glowing Endorsement
The Rocket's high regard for Wu stems from firsthand experience, having practiced with the young star in Hong Kong prior to his International Championship triumph. O'Sullivan, known for being selective with his time and mentorship, clearly sees something special in the Chinese player.
'If I like them I pass knowledge on. If I don't they don't get two minutes of my time,' O'Sullivan told World Snooker Tour. '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.'
A Modern-Day Comparison
While other snooker greats like Higgins and Murphy have drawn comparisons between Wu and the late, gifted Paul Hunter, O'Sullivan offers a different and perhaps more surprising analogy. He believes Wu's style and precision evoke memories of the legendary six-time world champion, Steve Davis.
'A lot of people liken him to Paul Hunter but I think he's more like a modern-day Steve Davis,' O'Sullivan explained. 'He's more dynamic, more cue power, more aggressive, has more scoring power but his positional play for me is on the level of Steve Davis, everything always goes in the middle of the hole.'
Reflecting on their practice sessions, O'Sullivan 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.'
Potential to Captivate
Beyond pure skill, O'Sullivan highlights Wu's appeal as a player who is genuinely exciting to watch, suggesting he has the charisma and style to captivate audiences for years to come.
'It's important to have players that you like to watch and he's definitely one of the players that I'd watch all day long,' said O'Sullivan. 'Never get bored or tired of watching him play, a phenomenal talent. Snooker's very lucky to have someone like that coming in, so young, so good, great character.'
O'Sullivan expressed his hope to see Wu fulfil his vast potential, noting: '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.'
Focus on the Present in Hong Kong
Both O'Sullivan and Wu are currently in Hong Kong competing at the World Grand Prix. O'Sullivan, who has been open about recent struggles with form including a second-round exit at the German Masters, faces Joe O'Connor in his opening match. Wu, meanwhile, takes on Anthony McGill.
Discussing his own quest to rediscover top form, O'Sullivan remained philosophical: 'I don't really know. The secret is there is no secret, you've just got to go out there and play and if the snooker gods are shining on you then hopefully you get the result.'
He added, drawing on his vast experience: 'I've had a lot of senses before where I didn't think my game was there and still went and won tournaments so my senses are never really that good. Just try and ignore the negative thoughts, focus on past experiences, know that I'm capable, I've just got to play well.'
