Ding Claims Thrilling Six Red World Title

Ding Junhui has dramatically become the SangSom Six Red World Champion, after edging out Stuart Bingham in an 8-7 thriller.

It was the second world final of 2016 for Ding, who made amends for his 18-14 loss against Mark Selby at the Crucible.

The 2015 World Champion Bingham hadn’t lost a match in the lead up to the final, after winning all five of his group stage games. Ding on the other hand, had to battle to reach the knockout rounds and only scraped through his group on frame difference.

In the final, the opening frame foreshadowed the drama yet to come, as Bingham snatched it on the black. However, Ding responded with breaks of 57 and 72 to move 3-1 ahead.

Bingham clawed his way back with breaks of 70 and 65, but it was world number nine Ding who moved to the verge of victory at 7-5. Bingham wouldn’t go away and claimed two frames without conceding a point, as he set up a decider.

Both players had opportunities in the final frame and like the opener, it went all the way to the last black. It was Ding who made it to claim his first Six Red World title.

“I feel happy to have won. The Six Red World Championship is a special tournament and it is a game fans love to watch,” said Ding. “I just kept playing in the style which I like to play. If there was a chance, I wanted to go for it.”