Ronnie O’Sullivan sent advice over text to Wu Yize in middle of World Snooker Championship final

Wu Yize partly has Ronnie O’Sullivan to thank for his maiden World Snooker Championship.

The Chinese star claimed the 2026 edition of the tournament on Monday with a thrilling 18-17 win over Shaun Murphy.

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It was a dramatic affair filled with several momentum swings, especially in the lead-up to the evening session.

Wu entered the evening session leading 13-12, having won the last three frames during the afternoon in response to Murphy rattling off five in a row.

Sensing the contest was at a delicate point, O’Sullivan took the opportunity to text Wu some tidbits of advice on how to handle the next stages of their contest.

What did O’Sullivan write via text to Wu?

“My goal was to extend the lead and I wasn’t playing really that bad, I just wasn’t focused on doing what I do best,” Wu said on the Snooker Club podcast.

“I went out and tried to give myself some time to cool down.

“Ronnie texted me and told me to stay focused, to be calm and also to play to my strengths.

“I am very happy that I was able to do that.”

Wu evidently took O’Sullivan’s advice on board as he became the emerged the victor.

This year’s final also marked the first time since 2002 a Crucible final had gone to a deciding frame, heaping even more pressure onto Wu’s shoulders.

But the 22-year-old stood tall and prevailed.

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O’Sullivan flicking a message to Wu during the break between sessions also shouldn’t come as a major surprise given the two spent time practising in the past.

Wu: O’Sullivan has taught me all sorts

Wu added: “He’s been helping me so much.

“He taught me how to handle situations during the match, how to handle different situations on the table.

“It’s definitely experience that I’ve learned from him, I benefit from the time I spent with him a lot.”

Wu’s triumph at the Crucible has also helped him rocket up the world rankings, where he now sits fourth.

Why Wu is ready to rocket like Ronnie

However, O’Sullivan believes Wu can, and perhaps should, climb even higher.

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“I think he (Wu) is going to be world number one, I’d give him three years,” O’Sullivan said in Feburary.

“I practiced with him for two or three days in Hong Kong not long ago and it’s not until you practice with someone that you can really appreciate how good they are. After day two I was like, ‘This kid is really special.’

“I expect him to do a lot of great things in snooker.”