China's surprising sporting success

中国体育的惊人成就

Drum Tower

2026-05-26

31 分钟
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单集简介 ...

Snooker is more often associated with Sheffield than Shenzhen. But at the start of May, Wu Yize became the second consecutive Chinese player to win the sport's World Championships. Why are so many Chinese players rising through the ranks of this quintessentially British pastime?  Guests and hosts: Jiehao Chen, co-host of “Drum Tower” Duncan Robinson, The Economist's Britain political editor and Bagehot columnist  Topics: SnookerSport in ChinaWu Yize   Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
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单集文稿 ...

  • The Economist.

  • It's the most important game in world snooker.

  • Doesn't look enamored with it

  • Inside the packed theater, you could hear a pin drop.

  • Go back to that yellowy pot along the cushion,

  • but there was no hesitation with that one, but it doesn't look like that here.

  • Wu Yize, a young player from Lanzhou in northwestern China,

  • is playing Shaun Murphy, one of Britain's snooker greats, and one shot could decide it all.

  • That was quite unbelievable.

  • Wu sinks a stunning shot marking the beginning of the end for Murphy's title hopes.

  • A few shots later, Wu becomes snooker's world champion and the theater erupts.

  • Wu Yize is not China's first snooker world champion.

  • A year ago, Zhao Xintong lifted the trophy.

  • Banners for Chinese sponsors are everywhere in the tournament,

  • and water bottles and waistcoats are adorned with Chinese characters.

  • For a sport that was once quintessentially British, snooker is becoming rather Chinese.

  • I'm Jiehao Chen, The Economist's China researcher,

  • and this week I'm joined by Duncan Robinson, our Britain political editor and Bagehot columnist.

  • And we're asking, what's behind the meteoric rise of snooker in China?

  • And what does it mean for the future of the sport?