Ding Junhui wins rating title for first time since 2019 as he beats Chris Wakelin 10-7 in Worldwide Championship; Ding fights again from 4-1 down to guide 7-4 after which holds off Wakelin fightback; Wakelin into prime 16 for first time in profession, qualifies straight for UK Championship
Final Up to date: 10/11/24 7:00pm
Ding Junhui ended his five-year anticipate a fifteenth rating title as he beat Chris Wakelin within the Worldwide Championship
Ding Junhui ended his five-year anticipate a fifteenth rating title as he beat Chris Wakelin 10-7 within the ultimate of the Worldwide Championship in his native China.
Ding had not claimed a significant rating trophy since his third UK Championship win in 2019, shedding his subsequent three finals.
The 37-year-old gained six frames in a row in Nanjing to show a 4-1 deficit right into a 7-4 lead after which held off a gutsy restoration from Englishman Wakelin.
Ding mentioned afterwards to World Snooker: “I didn’t know my family were going to be at the trophy presentation, it was great to see them. My kids hadn’t seen me win anything live before.”
Ding has now jumped up a spot to No 8 on the planet rankings, whereas Wakelin has risen into the highest 16 for the primary time in his profession, sitting fifteenth after his run in China.
The 32-year-old has, due to this fact, earned automated qualification into the UK Championship in York, with the primary Triple Crown occasion of the season working from November 23 to December 1.
Wakelin reeled off 4 half-centuries within the first 5 frames to imagine full management, just for Ding to hit again, with breaks of 57 and 80 serving to him erase the deficit.
A missed crimson by Wakelin helped Ding hearth an extra half-century and nudge 5-4 in entrance on the interval, earlier than breaks of 66 and 63 put him 7-4 up.
Wakelin rallied, although, with visits of 82 and 89 decreasing Ding’s benefit to a single body.
The gamers shared the subsequent two frames however Ding moved one from victory with a break of 72 earlier than occurring to safe the win for his second Worldwide Championship crown, 11 years after he pipped Marco Fu 10-9 to earn his first.
Ding’s final title win in his homeland got here again in 2017 when he beat Kyren Wilson within the World Open.
Crushed-finalist Wakelin mentioned: “I’ve got very vivid memories of watching snooker as a child and dreaming of being in these sorts of scenarios. As much as it does sometimes feel like a dream world, it also feels incredibly normal.
“I really feel like I belong right here and that I’m able to coming again and someday lifting this form of title. As a lot as in the present day was disappointing, I’m actually pleased with how I dealt with myself.”
