Wu Yize survived a furious Shaun Murphy surge to head into the final session with a 13-12 edge at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. After an overnight 10-7 advantage, the 22‑year‑old saw Murphy claim five straight frames, flashing breaks of 76, 52, 59 and 60. Wu’s early dominance set the stage for a tense showdown. The crowd watched nervously as the scores ticked up.

Murphy, a 2005 champion chasing a record‑long gap between titles, built pressure by leaving Wu open on several chances, yet the Chinese prodigy turned the tide in the 23rd frame with a decisive 64 break after Murphy missed a red. Wu then equalised with a 46, before posting 60 and 61 to reclaim the lead. Those points shifted the psychological balance in Wu’s favour.

With the match now just one frame apart, the session mirrors the 2014 Selby‑O’Sullivan thriller, underscoring the rarity of such closeness at the Crucible. Former champion John Parrott praised Wu’s resilience, noting the youngster “got his nose in front again.” Wu stands poised to become the second‑youngest world champion if he holds off Murphy tonight. Victory would cement his place among snooker's emerging elite.