Ding Claims Nanjing Glory
Ding Junhui secured the 15th ranking title of his illustrious career with a 10-7 defeat of Chris Wakelin in the final of the International Championship in Nanjing.
Chinese sporting icon Ding has now triumphed in seven ranking events in his native country, but this week’s victory is a first on home soil since 2017. Ding’s last victory in China came at the World Open seven years ago, when he beat Kyren Wilson in the final. He’s now a two-time International Champion, having first won the event back in 2013.
It’s also Ding’s first ranking event win in just under five years. He last tasted silverware in 2019 at the UK Championship, where he defeated Stephen Maguire in the title match.
Victory and the £175,000 top prize for Ding sees him jump from 93rd to seventh in the one-year-list, while he moves up from ninth to eighth in the world rankings.
That enhances his standing in the race for the lucrative Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in December, where the top ten in the world rankings at the end of the upcoming UK Championship will earn places.
Wakelin has to settle for the £75,000 runner-up prize, but it’s been a momentous week for the Englishman. His performance sees him move into the world’s top 16 for the first time in his career. That means he earns an automatic slot at the UK Championship in York and boosts his chances of qualifying for the Masters in January.
They came into this evening with Ding holding a slender 5-4 lead. However, momentum was very much in his favour, having claimed the last four frames of the afternoon to wrest control from 4-1 down. A raucous home crowd roared their hero on as the action got underway in the final session.
Things continued to move in Ding’s favour in the first frame tonight, but it was Wakelin who had the first chance. A missed black off the spot allowed Ding in and he compiled a frame winning 66 to make it 6-4.
Both players had opportunities in the next. A run of 63 was the telling contribution for Ding, leaving him 7-4 ahead after a crucial burst of six consecutive frames.
Wakelin showed his class and fought hard to stay in contention amid the onslaught from his opponent. Breaks of 82 and 89 gave him frames 12 and 13 to leave him 7-6 behind heading into the mid-session interval.
A brilliant contribution of 98 saw Ding restore his two frame advantage when play resumed. Wakelin continued to battle away though and claimed a 35-minute 15th to make it 8-7.
That proved to be Wakelin’s last frame of the match, with Ding firing home runs of 72 and 64 to close out the victory in style and return to the winner’s circle.
Ding said: “Winning in China feels like a home victory. The support I get here is incredible. Players have to stay focused on the match, but external support also helps. It’s been tough, not only for me but for the fans too. I’m glad we all made it through together. The setup in Nanjing, like transportation and facilities, was excellent.”
