What a start to this final it’s been.
We’re halfway through at the Crucible and this one is already living up to everything we hoped for, swings of momentum, big clearances, and that unmistakable sense that neither player is quite ready to let go.
Coming in, the narrative was clear. Experience vs raw young talent. Proven champion vs fearless newcomer.
So far… it’s playing out exactly like that.
Shaun Murphy has looked every inch the former world champion when it matters. There’s a control to his game that only comes from years of being here before. When things get tight, he slows it down, leans on his routine, and trusts the process. That’s not by accident. At the top level, it’s those repeatable habits, that ability to see the line, set up, and deliver under pressure, that separates players when matches get edgy.
Wu Yize, though, hasn’t gone away. Not even close.
If anything, he’s doubled down on what got him here in the first place. Positive, fluent, and completely unburdened by the occasion. When he gets in, he scores. When he sees a ball, he takes it on. There’s a freshness to his play that’s lighting this final up.
And that’s what makes this so compelling right now.
Murphy is trying to turn it into a test of discipline, control, and small margins.
Wu is trying to keep it open, keep it flowing, and trust his instincts.
At this stage, you can feel the match starting to pivot around a few key moments. A missed long red here. A slightly loose safety there. The kind of shots that don’t just cost frames, they shift belief.
Because that’s what this is becoming about now.
Belief.
Murphy will believe that if this turns into a proper grind over the final sessions, his experience gives him the edge. He’s been through too many of these battles not to fancy himself.
Wu will believe that if he keeps playing his natural game, keeps attacking every chance he gets then World Championship destiny will come his way. No baggage, no fear, just opportunity.
And from here, it feels like the next mini-session could define everything.
If Murphy tightens his grip, you can see this becoming a long, draining finish where every frame is earned.
If Wu lands a couple of quick punches, a big break, a steal, suddenly the crowd starts to lean his way and the pressure shifts.
Either way, this final is beautifully poised.
And if the first half has told us anything, it’s this…
No one’s blinking yet.
We’ll be glued to this when the titles start rolling for the first session at 13:00 BST today.
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