The family sacrifices that helped Wu become world champion

Breaking news from the world of sport: The family sacrifices that helped Wu become world champion Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Wu Yize, 22, is the second-youngest winner of the World Snooker Championship By Steve Sutcliffe Sport journalist at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Published 4 minutes ago A new superstar of snooker. Another Chinese world champion. A year earlier, it had been Zhao Xintong lifting the trophy and creating history for his country.

On Monday, it was Wu Yize - who had defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a compelling final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. And it was a particularly poignant moment for the 22-year-old, who relocated to the UK from his home city of Lanzhou aged 16, with his father, and attempted to pursue his dream amid concerns over the health of his mother. "My mum wasn't in very good health condition for a long time," he said.

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"During that time we were in Sheffield, she has been in hospital a lot. She is forever a source of strength to me. "She is feeling much better now.

This is the second time she has visited me in the UK. I think in the future I will take her more to be by my side. "She sacrificed everything for me.

At that time she told me 'don't come back home, I can manage everything'. It was the second year I was playing in the UK. "At that time my ranking was very low so it was a crucial time for me to achieve some good results and keep my professional status.

Reactions and Expectations

She means everything to me. " Wu beats Murphy in decider to win world title Published 7 hours ago Who is snooker's new superstar Wu? Published 7 hours ago Wu, who uses a translator in his news conferences, shared a bed with his father in a windowless flat in the Steel City as he tried to carve out a career in professional snooker.

But his attacking style and individuality, in a sport known for its formal attire and disciplined approach, marked him out for greatness. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and Murphy, who won the title in 2005, both tipped him as a future world champion earlier in the campaign. Jason Ferguson - chairman of the sport's governing body - says he and others have the ability to transform the sport and deliver "a changing of the tide".

He told Sport: "This boy is just outstanding. I've known Wu for a number of years, known his father for many years and seen the struggles and the tough battles to get to this stage. "You cannot believe what it means to that family to actually be in that arena holding that trophy.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.