Why read this: This match report tells the story of how Wu Yize, a young player from China, beat Shaun Murphy in the World Snooker Championship final. The match was decided in the very last frame, which has only happened four times since 1977. Students at B1 level can follow the action because the snooker words frame and break are explained early in the text. The story also moves in time order, so students do not have to rebuild the timeline. The article gives readers a chance to meet a real sports event, talk about pressure and parents, and learn a small set of British sports phrases such as traded blows, pegged back, and fell short at the final hurdle.
What to notice: Watch how the article uses the snooker words frame and break. The first paragraph explains both words, so students should be able to use that explanation when these words come back later. Notice the moments when Wu was almost beaten, such as the missed black ball, and notice how the article tells us he held himself together. Also notice the change in voice when Wu and Murphy speak. Wu speaks about family in simple, emotional words. Murphy speaks kindly even after losing. These two short speeches carry the human story of the match, and students should be able to talk about how each speaker feels.
Skills practised: Students practise reading a real news report at B1 level. They follow a story in time order, build the meaning of new words from short in-text explanations, and pick out facts such as scores, ages, and prize money. They also work on simple inference: why missing the black was painful, why the last frame was so rare, and why Wu thanks his parents. The article supports paired retell, short answer questions, and a simple compare task between the two speakers.
Wu Yize wins world snooker title in last-frame thriller
The young player from China beats Shaun Murphy 18 to 17 in the final frame, then thanks his parents for everything.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Wu Yize is the new world snooker champion. The young player from China beat Shaun Murphy 18 frames to 17 in a long, exciting final on Monday night in Sheffield, England. To understand the match, two snooker words help. In snooker, each round of the game is called a frame, and the player who scores more points wins the frame. A scoring run of consecutive pots by one player at the table is called a break.
This World Championship final was the first since the year 2002. A final-frame decider is a match that is only settled in the very last frame. Since 1977, only four world finals have come down to a final last frame. Wu and Murphy played in front of a packed crowd of fans, and the match lasted long into Monday evening.
The two players had for most of the night. Wu would move just ahead, but Murphy kept fighting back, and each time Wu took the lead, he was by his strong, calm opponent. Wu was not able to pull clear of Murphy at any point in the match.
In the second-to-last frame, the championship was almost in Wu's hands. He had a simple black ball to pot to win the trophy, but he missed it. Even after this painful mistake, Wu under huge pressure. The miss gave Murphy a real chance to fight back, and the older player of it. He scored a strong run of points in one visit and forced the match into a final frame. Murphy was hoping to win his second world title, many years after his first one.
Then came the moment that decided everything. In the final frame, Wu played a calm scoring run that ended the match. This gave him the trophy. Wu now his fellow Chinese player Zhao Xintong, who became China's first world champion in 2025.
After the win, Wu hugged Murphy and then spoke about his family. He said his parents, not him, were the real champions of the day. Wu chose to as a teenager so that he could play snooker full-time. Through all of this, his father stayed by his side. His mother, he said, had been for many years. Wu told the crowd that his parents gave him his strength, and he loved them very much.
Murphy spoke kindly about the new champion. He said it was very sad that he had lost on this day. He added that he had told friends earlier in the year that Wu would one day be a world champion. Murphy also praised one of Wu's shots played , which is the long stick a player uses when the cue ball is far away. In the end, Murphy said, he could not have tried any harder. He once again, losing his fourth final in snooker's in a row.
For winning, Wu took home a prize of 500,000 pounds. He had started the season outside the top 16 players in the world. Now, after his historic win, he sits fourth in the world rankings.
Wu Yize is the new world snooker champion. The young player from China beat Shaun Murphy 18 frames to 17 in a long, exciting final on Monday night in Sheffield, England. To understand the match, two snooker words help. In snooker, each round of the game is called a frame, and the player who scores more points wins the frame. A scoring run of consecutive pots by one player at the table is called a break.
This World Championship final was the first since the year 2002. A final-frame decider is a match that is only settled in the very last frame. Since 1977, only four world finals have come down to a final last frame. Wu and Murphy played in front of a packed crowd of fans, and the match lasted long into Monday evening.
The two players had for most of the night. Wu would move just ahead, but Murphy kept fighting back, and each time Wu took the lead, he was by his strong, calm opponent. Wu was not able to pull clear of Murphy at any point in the match.
In the second-to-last frame, the championship was almost in Wu's hands. He had a simple black ball to pot to win the trophy, but he missed it. Even after this painful mistake, Wu under huge pressure. The miss gave Murphy a real chance to fight back, and the older player of it. He scored a strong run of points in one visit and forced the match into a final frame. Murphy was hoping to win his second world title, many years after his first one.
Then came the moment that decided everything. In the final frame, Wu played a calm scoring run that ended the match. This gave him the trophy. Wu now his fellow Chinese player Zhao Xintong, who became China's first world champion in 2025.
After the win, Wu hugged Murphy and then spoke about his family. He said his parents, not him, were the real champions of the day. Wu chose to as a teenager so that he could play snooker full-time. Through all of this, his father stayed by his side. His mother, he said, had been for many years. Wu told the crowd that his parents gave him his strength, and he loved them very much.
Murphy spoke kindly about the new champion. He said it was very sad that he had lost on this day. He added that he had told friends earlier in the year that Wu would one day be a world champion. Murphy also praised one of Wu's shots played , which is the long stick a player uses when the cue ball is far away. In the end, Murphy said, he could not have tried any harder. He once again, losing his fourth final in snooker's in a row.
For winning, Wu took home a prize of 500,000 pounds. He had started the season outside the top 16 players in the world. Now, after his historic win, he sits fourth in the world rankings.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What was the final score of the match between Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy?
- 02
Why is Wu's win special when we look at the history of the World Championship?
- 03
What does Wu's quote about his parents tell us about his life?
- 04
Explain why missing the simple black ball in the second-to-last frame was such a dramatic moment in the match.
Suggested length: ~70 words
- 05
Compare how Wu and Murphy spoke after the match. What do their words show about each player?
Suggested length: ~70 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What was the final score of the match between Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy?
- 02
Why is Wu's win special when we look at the history of the World Championship?
- 03
What does Wu's quote about his parents tell us about his life?
- 04
Explain why missing the simple black ball in the second-to-last frame was such a dramatic moment in the match.
Suggested length: ~70 words
- 05
Compare how Wu and Murphy spoke after the match. What do their words show about each player?
Suggested length: ~70 words