Can the UK find a British WU YIZE? Or is it too late?

Is this the rise of China Snooker Power?

There are a couple to mention including Stan Moody and Oliver Sykes – but the game needs more clubs, more openings, more sponsorship, more funding, and more opportunities than I believe is currently being offered by the establishment – and government, and in sports bodies like Sport England.

The game is fractured in some parts of the UK. Non existent in some parts of the UK. And in some parts not as welcoming as it could be.

WU YIZE has become the second oldest World Champion – one year behind Stephen Hendry, who won the title in 1990 at the age of 21.

YIZE, 22, defeated Shaun Murphy in the final in a thrilling deciding frame to clinch the title and make it two years in a row for the Asian countries.

The win is an incredible achievement for a player still very young – but this is most probably the start of a glowing career for the youngster – something some people can only dream of at such a young age.

The inspiration from Ding Junhui, who came onto the scene in 2005, has inspired for the last 20 odd years the Chinese to keep persisting and now, it appears that there could be a major breakthrough with the Chinese dominating the sport in years to come. That’s still to be proved consistently, but the signs are there that the Academies in Sheffield – and the Victoria Snooker Academy will continue to nurture talent from all parts of the globe.

Hopefully, the appearance of Shaun Murphy, who was appearing in his fifth final, will have also inspired players of all ages to take up the cue.

Murphy, who won the title back in 2005, but came close on four other occasions has also demonstrated that age has no barriers with achievement, and if you keep persisting and working on all aspects of your game, on and off the table, you can get improvements, no matter how big or small.

I hope that Murphy and Wu’s appearance in the final – two players from two different spectrums of the scene will really boost the sport and get more people playing it – and it’s a lesson in there are no bars to achievement – regardless of how big or small they might be.

WU still has a lot to learn in the game at 22 – his greatest test will come next year when defending it.

And being able to prove next season that he can win again and again.

On another note, I believe that if Snooker makes subtle changes to its rules and makes the game pacier, it would interest many more people. Most of the people who go to The Crucible are purists, but most of the general public are just interested in casual play and are not interested in becoming top amateur or professionals.

Most people just want to enjoy the game, improve at their own pace, and enjoy it – we haven’t got the same mindset as the Chinese. But, having said that, those who do want to take it seriously, and make it a pro career need to obviously sacrifice a lot and also need to find proper facilities that will cater for their needs, and that is playing at Academies.

There’s no point having loads of coaches, if there are very few clubs around with more than three tables, and they don’t cater for snooker for all.

This sport has a problem in the UK – a big problem. It’s been a problem that has escalated over many years of neglect and the rise in other sports which has led to its current situations with players not taking up a cue and playing – even just for enjoyment – and there’s been too much emphasis on trying to get everyone to become top amateurs and pros.

I’ll say it again, the mindset is not China.

#snookerforall