Photo by 央视新闻

On May 5, Wu Yize became the new world snooker champion, defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a thrilling World Snooker Championship final. The victory made the 22-year-old Chinese star one of the sport's brightest new names and marked another historic moment for Chinese snooker.

Behind this global triumph lies a familiar Dongguan story.

Wu's connection with Dongguan began early. In 2015, at just 11 years old, he made a century break at a tournament, revealing exceptional talent far beyond his age. In 2019, Wu moved into a professional snooker club in Changping, Dongguan, for full-time training. Living and practising almost entirely around the table, he sharpened his game day after day.

Dongguan's competitive atmosphere, professional training facilities and high-level practice platforms helped lay the foundation for his rise. From Changping to the Crucible, Wu's journey reflects not only personal talent and discipline, but also the strength of the city's snooker ecosystem.

Dongguan has long been known as one of China's most important cradles of snooker champions. Ding Junhui once trained in the city for years before becoming a national icon. Zhao Xintong, Zhang Anda, Xiao Guodong, Bai Yulu and other leading players have also trained or developed their skills here.

Over the decades, Dongguan has built a strong talent pipeline for the sport. From the arrival of its early professional billiards clubs in the 1990s to the establishment of the Guangdong branch of the CBSA World Snooker Academy, from regular elite tournaments to a growing youth training system, the city has created an environment where young players can dream big and train seriously.

Congratulations to Wu Yize, and cheers to the next legend who may one day rise from Dongguan.