World Snooker Championship: rising China star Wu Yize reaches last 4, Zhao Xintong ousted
Rising star, who now faces Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, is last Chinese player left after defending champion falls to ‘Crucible curse’
Chinese snooker rising star Wu Yize said he would need to do better both offensively and defensively after reaching the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship on Wednesday.
A 13-8 win over Hossein Vafaei propelled the 2022 rookie of the year to the last four at the Crucible Theatre for the first time, where he will face Mark Allen, after the Northern Irishman edged past Barry Hawkins 13-11 in an earlier quarter-final.
“I am delighted that I could play in a way that I truly enjoy in such a competition, and that I managed to play to my ability on the offensive end,” said Wu, after becoming only the fourth Chinese player, after Zhao Xintong, Ding Junhui and Si Jiahui, to reach the final four at the world championship.
“It felt like an easier game [against Vafaei] because I didn’t have to spend too much time on playing safety shots. I think we both played to our standard.
“I woke up this morning feeling like a few things had clicked. I hope I can keep enjoying it, and really get comfortable enjoying every moment out there.”
Having never won a match at the Crucible before this year, Wu will hope to pick up where he left off against Allen, whom he will face under the one-table set-up, after last thrashing the world No 14 5-1 at the World Open in Yushan in March.