Chinese snooker star Ding Junhui triumphed over England’s Chris Wakelin with a 10-7 victory in the final of the World Snooker Tour (WST) International Championship held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, on Sunday. This marks Ding’s 15th ranking title and his first in nearly five years, reigniting his prominence on the global snooker stage.
The final began with Ding trailing 4-1, but he showcased remarkable resilience by clinching four consecutive frames in the afternoon session, taking a narrow 5-4 lead into the evening. Capitalizing on Wakelin’s missed black in the 10th frame, Ding extended his advantage with a tactical break of 66, bringing the score to 6-4.
Ding continued his momentum with a break of 63, but Wakelin fought back with impressive runs of 82 and 89, narrowing the gap to 7-6 before the mid-session interval. Undeterred, Ding emerged from the break with renewed focus, delivering high-scoring breaks of 98, 72, and 64 in the subsequent frames. His commanding performance secured the championship, marking his first title on home soil since 2017.
“Winning in China feels like a home victory,” Ding reflected. “The support I receive here is incredible. While players need to stay focused on the match, the external support truly helps. It’s been tough, not only for me but for the fans as well. I’m glad we all made it through together. The setup in Nanjing, like transportation and facilities, was excellent.”
He added, “I’ve played so well in every match. Chris applied a lot of pressure in this game, especially at 4-1. I put too much pressure on myself at the beginning. That was the perfect start for him, but he started missing, and there were some key frames that allowed me to get ahead. The second session was totally different.”
Ding’s victory is a significant milestone in his career, reinforcing his status as one of Asia’s premier snooker talents. His success not only inspires aspiring players across the continent but also highlights the growing prominence of snooker in the region. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this victory will influence Ding’s performance in upcoming tournaments.
Reference(s):
Ding Junhui beats Chris Wakelin to win WST International Championship
cgtn.com
