Young Guns Shock the Masters: Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong Stun Snooker Giants Murphy and Selby in Opening Round Upsets
On an exhilarating opening day at the Masters in London’s Alexandra Palace, two snooker giants, Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby, were both knocked out in the first round, setting the stage for an action-packed tournament.
Reigning champion Shaun Murphy was up first, facing China’s rising star Wu Yize. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions as Murphy struggled to find his rhythm, losing the first three frames in quick succession. Although he managed to win frame four, his hopes of a comeback were dashed when he dropped frame five in a nail-biting black-ball finish. Murphy, the 2022 Masters winner, never seemed to hit his stride, failing to make a single break over 50 throughout the match. Wu, on the other hand, was in sublime form, executing a magnificent clearance of 137 in frame two and following it up with a 56 in frame seven. The 22-year-old from China, ranked 13th in the world, showcased his composure and clinical potting, despite the immense pressure of playing in such a prestigious event for the first time.
“I was a bit nervous at first, but after the first frame, I felt much more relaxed,” said Wu after the win. “Beating Shaun Murphy in my first Masters is a huge achievement.”
For Murphy, it was a bitter disappointment, as he reflected on what he described as “the worst performance of my season, maybe the worst at the Masters.” The 43-year-old, who had been hoping for a repeat of his previous triumph at the venue, admitted that nothing had gone right for him on the day. “I’ve been working hard, but nothing clicked,” Murphy confessed, acknowledging that Wu fully deserved his victory.
Later in the evening, Selby, who had won the UK Championship just a month ago, faced another daunting challenge against China’s Xiao Guodong. The 36-year-old debutant was in scintillating form, taking a commanding 4-0 lead with breaks of 95, 62, 76, and 77. Selby’s highest break of just 21 reflected his struggles to settle into the match, but the four-time world champion wasn’t ready to give up just yet. With two impressive breaks of 101 and 76, Selby fought back, bringing the score to 4-2 and giving Xiao a brief scare. However, Xiao found his composure again and, after a 46-minute lull without potting a single ball, he responded with a break of 118 to take a 5-2 lead. A scrappy eighth frame followed, which Xiao clinched to secure a 6-2 victory.
Xiao, who had been relatively unknown to many, was understandably elated with his performance. “I just told myself to relax and enjoy the game,” he said. “When I won the first four frames, I could feel the pressure on Mark, and that helped me play even better. It feels great to be in the Masters, and I couldn’t be happier with my win.”
Selby, although disappointed, was gracious in defeat. “I didn’t have many chances in the first four frames, and Xiao made it easy for himself,” he admitted. “I did well to get back to 4-2, but I missed some key shots, and he punished me. It’s a loss I can learn from.”
Wu and Xiao’s victories over two of the sport’s biggest names mark a sensational start to the 2026 Masters, with both young talents now set to face each other in the quarterfinals. Their performances have sent a strong message to the rest of the field—there are new threats on the horizon.
