Lu received the gold medal, EUR 40,000 in prize money, and future performance opportunities.
Second prize went to Kevin Chen of Canada, who received EUR 30,000, and third prize, along with EUR 20,000, was awarded to Zitong Wang of China.
Fourth prize was shared by Tianyao Lyu, 17, of China, and Shiori Kuwahara of Japan.
Piotr Alexewicz, the only Polish finalist, and Vincent Ong of Malaysia shared fifth prize.
William Yang of the United States placed sixth.
David Khrikuli of Georgia, Miyu Shindo of Japan, and Tianyou Li of China received honourable mentions.
The jury’s verdict, announced around 2 a.m., prompted an emotional response from the audience at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, with many expressing disappointment.
Competition spokesman Aleksander Laskowski said Lu remained composed.
“After a few minutes, he said he was happy and moved, adding that he was simply dumbfounded when he heard the jury’s decision,” Laskowski told reporters.
Lu, 27, is an internationally recognised pianist. He previously competed in Warsaw in 2015, taking fourth prize, and in 2018 won the Leeds International Piano Competition.
He has since performed in major concert halls worldwide and recorded two albums for Warner Classics, featuring works by Chopin, Schubert, Schumann and Brahms.
Music journalist Marcin Majchrowski of Polish Radio 2, the public broadcaster’s classical music channel, called Lu’s win "a big surprise."
“His playing is very personal and refined,” Majchrowski said. “But unlike 10 years ago, his vision of Chopin’s music has turned in another, not necessarily right, direction."
Two Polish pianists also received special awards: Yehuda Prokopowicz won the Polish Radio Award for the best performance of Chopin’s Mazurkas, and Adam Kałduński received the Bella Davidovich Prize for the best interpretation of a Ballade.
A total of 84 pianists from 19 countries took part in this year’s competition, including 28 from China, 13 from Japan, and 13 from Poland.
The international jury, chaired by American pianist Garrick Ohlsson, included acclaimed pianists Dang Thai Son, Yulianna Avdeeva, Nelson Goerner, Kevin Kenner, Robert McDonald, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Piotr Paleczny and Ewa Pobłocka, as well as pianist and Chopin scholar John Rink and British music critic John Allison.
Founded in 1927, the Chopin Competition is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious piano contests.
The next edition, the 20th, is scheduled for 2030.
(mk/gs)