Wu Yize wins Shenzhen Open to secure Chinese one-two in world rankings

Wu Yize won the Shenzhen Open on Sunday, defeating Yuan Sijun 10-5 in an all-Chinese final to claim his first ranking title since his World Championship victory. BBC Sport reported that the result moves the 22-year-old to a career-best second in the world rankings, behind fellow Chinese player Zhao Xintong.

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The rankings change gives China the top two positions for the first time. Wu overtakes Judd Trump and Neil Robertson after his success at the Bao'an Sports Centre, adding another title to a year already marked by his breakthrough at the Crucible. In May, he defeated Shaun Murphy to become the second-youngest world champion.

Wu reached the Shenzhen final after beating Trump 6-1 in the semi-finals, and he carried that scoring form into the opening stages against Yuan. Breaks of 117 and 80 helped him establish a 3-1 lead, giving the world champion an early advantage in the best-of-19 contest. Yuan, however, overturned that lead before the opening session was over.

Playing in his first ranking final, the 26-year-old won three successive frames to go 4-3 ahead. Wu answered by taking the last two frames of the session, making a half-century in each to recover the lead. The players therefore went into the interval separated by just one frame, with Wu ahead 5-4 after an opening session in which both had led.

The evening session brought a clearer separation. Wu produced breaks of 74 and 62 as he moved into an 8-5 lead, while Yuan's safety play faltered, according to BBC Sport's account. From there, the world champion won the remaining two frames to complete the 10-5 victory, conceding only one frame after the interval.

The title earned Wu the £177,000 winner's prize alongside his new ranking high. Yuan received £76,000 and climbed seven places to 26th despite losing the final. His first appearance in a ranking-event decider ended without the trophy, but still delivered a substantial rise in position as Wu joined Zhao at the top of the standings.