Chinese 18-year-old Ding Junhui became the first non-British or
Irish winner of the UK Championship snooker title in York on Sunday
by beating Steve Davis, currently ranked No.6 in the world,
10-6.
Railing 5-3 at interval, Davis fought back at the start of the
evening session in his 100th career final, but Ding, with a world
ranking of 60, managed to match the six-time world champion in some
epic safety exchanges before potting his way to a deserved and
memorable victory.
There was pre-match talk that Ding, from Shanghai, might
struggle to handle the tactical nous of an opponent 30 years his
senior.
But he consistently coped with the best safety Davis had to
offer and answered with even better positional play of his own.
Veteran Davis was left to tap the table in appreciation
regularly in a match lacking in century breaks but not quality.
Ding's third-frame 111 proved to be the highest of the match,
although he sunk countless pressure pots to clinch frames.
"I didn't make the most of my breaks and kept slipping out of
position," Davis told BBC Sport afterwards. "But he played
fantastic. I've had a great week, but Ding was stronger on the
day."
Speaking through an interpreter, Ding thanked a largely
pro-Davis audience for their support.
"This is the second-most important ranking tournament, so it is
a great pleasure to win it," said Ding, who won the China Open
earlier this year.
"York is a big step for me. I've gained loads of confidence and
experience here," he added.
The Travis Perkins UK Championship opened at the York Barbican
Center on December 5.
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2005)
