Students from the Confucius Institute Star Mandarin School at the University of Sheffield have once again taken part in the World Snooker Tour (WST)-supported Faces in the Frame: Snooker Player Portraits Exhibition, an annual community arts initiative celebrating the connection between sport, creativity and cultural exchange during the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
Organised by Sheffield Young Artists, the exhibition invites children and young people from local schools and community groups to create portrait artworks of professional snooker players competing at Sheffield Crucible Theatre.
This year, our student Xu Yan Chen produced a portrait of rising Chinese snooker star Wu Yize. In an extraordinary twist, Wu Yize went on to win the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible just days later, becoming one of the youngest winners in the tournament’s history.
The coincidence made the school’s participation even more memorable, giving students the opportunity not only to contribute artistically to the championship atmosphere, but also to witness sporting history unfolding in Sheffield.
The Confucius Institute Star Mandarin School was also recognised with a “School of Merit” award and received a commemorative Glass Trophy in acknowledgement of the school’s outstanding participation and contribution to the exhibition.
In addition, Xu Yan Chen and Rosie Ruoxi Ni were both presented with “2026 Snooker Player Portrait Artist” plaques in recognition of their artwork and creative contribution to the exhibition.
The exhibition reflects Sheffield’s unique position as the global home of snooker. Since 1977, the World Snooker Championship has been staged at the Crucible Theatre, helping establish the city’s international reputation as the spiritual home, and arguably the capital, of the sport.
Over the years, Sheffield has also become closely linked with the rise of Chinese snooker. The journey began with Ding Junhui, whose success inspired a new generation of Chinese players to travel to Sheffield to train and compete professionally. Behind the growing ties between Sheffield and China, and emerging talents stands Victoria Yuanyuan Shi, founder of the Sheffield Snooker Academy, who has played a significant role in supporting and mentoring young international players in the city. Remarkably, for the second consecutive year, players associated with the academy have gone on to become world champions: Zhao Xintong in 2025 and Wu Yize in 2026.
Victoria’s work behind the scenes has helped establish Sheffield not only as a centre of sporting excellence, but also as an important environment for international talent development and cultural exchange.
For the students involved, the experience offered far more than an art project. It became an opportunity to connect with a major international sporting occasion, celebrate creativity, and take part in Sheffield’s continuing story as one of the world’s great sporting cities.
During BBC coverage of the 2026 World Snooker Championship, interviews with students, including Xu Yan Chen, were broadcast alongside displays of their artwork.
Reflecting on her portrait of Wu Yize, Xu Yan said:
“This is the first time I have created a portrait. While researching him, what I found most admirable about Wu Yize was his resilience and composure under pressure. His ability to recover from seemingly losing positions and turn matches around into incredible victories is an immense skill. It is something I hope to improve in myself as well, especially in my studies, staying calm, focused and determined even when things feel challenging.”
From the snooker table to the artist’s canvas, the 2026 World Snooker Championship once again demonstrated how sport, education and culture can come together to inspire communities across borders.