Wu Yize
World Champion Wu Yize triumphed 6-5 over Shaun Murphy in a thrilling repeat of this year’s Crucible final to make the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
The pair crossed cues in the first world final to go to a deciding frame since 2002 this May, with Yize taking his chance to power over the line for a famous win. Once again there was high drama this evening, with the match coming down to the final black.
This was Yize’s first appearance on tour since becoming China’s second World Champion, having followed in the footsteps of Zhao Xintong’s victory in 2025. He was granted a rapturous reception in the previous round, when he finished off a 6-2 win over Si Jiahui with back-to-back 140 breaks.
With the match reaching a deciding frame and Murphy leading 62-29, the Englishman unexpectedly missed a red. Yize stepped up and cleared to the black to seal another nerve-shredding win over his English opponent. He now faces Judd Trump in the last four.
Yize said: I didn’t feel I played very well. Although the result was good and I managed to win the match, I never really took control of it. Hopefully I can find my rhythm and get back to my best in the next match as I prepare for the semi-finals.
“I definitely made a lot of mistakes that I shouldn’t have made. To be honest, I didn’t expect to get another chance in the deciding frame, and I was quite surprised when Shaun missed and left me in. I don’t think either of us played particularly well today. It wasn’t as high a standard as the match we produced in the World Championship final.”
Trump scored his first whitewash win over John Higgins for ten years, demolishing his illustrious opponent 6-0 to make the semis.
The Ace in the Pack last prevented Higgins from registering a frame in their meeting at the 2016 European Masters, when he triumphed 4-0. Today’s win is his first ever whitewash victory over the Scot in a match of this length.
It sees Trump gain revenge for two agonising defeats in the pair’s previous meetings. Higgins scored 6-5 semi-final wins over the Englishman at the Masters and the Players Championship last season. After today’s win, Trump leads the head-to-head standings 22-16.
An astonishing display saw Trump limit Higgins to only 37 points in the entire match, all of which came in the second frame. The world number one made breaks of 97, 60, 53, 142, 128 and 102 to storm to victory.
36-year-old Trump said: “I started off well and there was a big second frame. John missed the last black going up for the yellow and at this level that kind of shot can turn a game. He didn’t do a lot wrong after that. I don’t know if I’ve ever beaten him 6-0 before. It was an incredible performance. He’s such a consistent player and every time I’ve got in front in the past he’s managed to get back into it.
“I had a good run against him for five or six years and then when you lose once you give your opponent that bit of confidence. If you lose a few games in a row it starts to get in your head. It was nice to shut that down early with that kind of performance.”
Defending champion Kyren Wilson won the last three frames to claim a dramatic 6-5 win over three-time World Champion Mark Williams and make the semi-finals.
Wilson defeated Si Jiahui, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Zhao Xintong and Ali Carter to capture the title 12 months ago. Victory this afternoon means he will face Zhao again in a repeat of their last four clash in 2025.
He found himself 5-3 down but summoned a burst of breaks, making 61, 54 and 113 to run out the victor. Afterwards 34-year-old Wilson admitted at being angry finding himself behind, but said he channeled it in the right direction to get the win.
Wilson said: “It has come with the experience of knowing I can turn matches around. Although you feel angry, it is about remaining calm and using it to spur you on. Perhaps that came from winning the World Championship in 2024. I know what I’m capable of and I’m pleased I finished the match off.
“It can be soul destroying out there. We’ve seen massive leads crumble because an opponent has missed an easy shot and they can’t recover. You can’t teach that. It is about overcoming it in the moment and proving you can handle it.”
2025 World Champion Xintong stormed to the semis with a stunning 6-0 defeat of Australia’s 2010 Crucible winner Neil Robertson.
Xintong made two century runs of 117 and 102 in the win. He will get the chance to avenge a 10-5 loss at the hands of Wilson last year.
