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This old theatre in Sheffield has known so many incredible days and nights. This was right up there with any of them. To be inside the arena as Wu Yize kissed the World Championship trophy and raised it to the skies on Monday night felt like a privilege.

That room is intense enough at the best of times. On nights like this, it seems to take snooker into a realm all of its own. The 'Wu' chants rang around the Crucible, with the crowd showing their appreciation for the brilliant 22-year-old. This was all about the fearlessness of youth. Shaun Murphy has done everything in snooker. Seen it, done it, worn the T-shirt.

But all that experience didn't quite get him over the line, as Wu claimed a monumental 18-17 victory.

It was all very reminiscent of Murphy himself, who won this title as a precocious 22-year-old in 2005.

Wu just kept coming back for more in this tournament. Every time it looked like the job was too big for him - like when he missed a black when well set for an 18-16 victory - he produced something extra, making a break of 85 in the decider for victory.

They say it must be one of the loneliest places in sport, sitting in your seat when your opponent is clearing the table.

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You can magnify that many times over when it comes to being in your seat to watch a player give a victory speech in a world final.

Yet that is what Murphy had to do. I watched him as Wu was talking to the BBC's Hazel Irvine.

Murphy did everything you'd expect from this great ambassador - he clapped at the right times, he laughed at the funny moments, even though he will have felt so devastated inside.

All the crowd was laughing when Wu said he just wanted to go to bed. There were a few teary eyes around too when the new champion said his parents were the real champions.

I was very moved by the scene, and the whole night. There's a magic in the air when you're witnessing great sport. And this was a wonderful chapter in snooker's great story, make no mistake.

As we were leaving, you could see fans talking excitedly to each other. You knew this was a night they would store in their own memory banks.

This was the first deciding frame in a world final for 24 years. A titanic piece of sport. It was a pleasure to watch it.