Wu Yize Into World Final After Allen's Heartbreaking Black Ball Miss — The Bet Now Is Clear

Wu Yize completes stunning comeback to book final date with Murphy

If you weren't watching the Crucible on Friday evening, you missed one of the most extraordinary moments in World Championship history. Mark Allen — 16-14 up, one frame from his first-ever final — missed a sittable black off its spot in the 32nd frame and handed Wu Yize a passage into the showpiece match that nobody in Sheffield could quite believe. The Northern Irishman was visibly distraught afterwards, and frankly, you can understand why. It was the sort of miss that will be replayed for decades. But for Wu, 22 years old and already the most exciting young talent China has produced since Ding Junhui in his pomp, it was the moment his World Championship dream stayed very much alive.

Wu trailed 16-14 going into those final three frames and looked, to all intents and purposes, beaten. What followed was a masterclass in composure under the most savage kind of pressure the sport can generate. Breaks of 67, 52 and 71 in consecutive frames — each one more assured than the last — sealed a 17-16 victory that ranks among the Crucible's all-time classics. Allen's collapse across frames 31 and 32 will inevitably dominate the headlines, and rightly so, but let's not diminish what Wu produced. Winning three on the bounce against a player of Allen's calibre, at the Crucible, in a semi-final — that takes serious nerve.

What Allen said — and what it means for the final

Speaking to BBC Sport immediately after the match, Allen was devastatingly candid. "I had my chances and completely blew it, to be honest," he said. "I always fancy myself under pressure, but I didn't cope with it today. When you miss a black like that you don't deserve to win." The 38-year-old's self-assessment was brutally honest, and the contrast with Wu's composure could not have been sharper. Tellingly, Allen added that he believes Wu will be world champion — high praise from a man whose own Crucible dream just ended in the most gut-wrenching fashion imaginable. Six-time champion Steve Davis and 2024 winner Kyren Wilson, working as pundits for BBC Two, were equally stunned. Wilson pointed to Allen's bridge hand as a technical concern, suggesting that had Allen grounded his hand properly on the table, the black was unmissable. Whether it was technique or nerves, the outcome was the same — Wu lives on.

The Final: Wu vs Murphy — The Pick

Wu Yize will face England's Shaun Murphy in the final, which gets underway at 13:00 BST on Sunday. This is the bet you want to be on right now, and the value is squarely with Wu Yize to win the World Championship.

Here's why. Wu is playing with the kind of uninhibited freedom that only the young can truly access. He moved to the UK at just 16, reportedly sharing a bed with his father in a windowless flat as he chased his dream — the story writes itself, but more importantly, the snooker backs it up. He is ruthless at the table, capable of explosive breaks, and has already shown at this tournament that he can win ugly as well as beautifully. That final-session recovery against Allen proved his character beyond any doubt. China have a finalist for the second year running, and on this form, Wu looks capable of going one better than his predecessors.

Murphy, meanwhile, is a former world champion (2005) and a wily, experienced operator who will not be overawed by the occasion. The Wizard of Wishaw — now playing out of England — has been in solid form and will fancy his chances. This is not a one-sided final by any means. But the momentum, the form, and frankly the narrative are all pulling in Wu's direction.

The Odds

Odds indicative at time of writing — always check your bookmaker for latest prices. Bet365, William Hill and Betway all carry comprehensive World Championship final markets.

The Analysis

Back Wu at 4/6 or better with your preferred bookmaker for the outright, but if you want a touch more value, look at the first session betting and highest break markets — Wu's century-break rate this tournament has been impressive, and he looks likely to dominate the early exchanges if he carries this momentum forward. For those who prefer Murphy, the 6/4 is not without merit given his experience of finals, but the weight of evidence this week points one way. Wu Yize is going to be very hard to stop.

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