Ding
Junhui, a fine talent whose form has been maddeningly inconsistent throughout
his career, seems to have found an equilibrium.
He
has won the last two major ranking titles, the Shanghai Masters and Indian
Open. If he wins the International Championship this week it will be the first
time a player has won three on the spin for 23 years.
Stephen
Hendry won the 1990 World Championship and then the first four ranking titles
of the following season.
Today
Ding beat another great of Asian snooker, James Wattana, 6-3 in Chengdu.
He
is scoring heavily, playing good safety and keeping both his concentration and
discipline intact.
Ding
seemed to be under pressure in China these last few years, feeling perhaps the
expectations of his many supporters. But his Shanghai triumph has eased that
and he now looks relaxed and ready for more silverware.
He’s
cooler now that he’s older, the teenage immaturity a thing of the past. I
remember very early in his career when he was playing in the world qualifiers
at Prestatyn. He went behind at the final interval, came into the players’ room
and literally threw his cue on the floor, thankfully not damaging it.
A
friend of his calmed him with a ripe tomato, although this ultimately did not
lead to victory.
It
all seems a long time ago. Ding is now a top player in every sense and also a
joy to watch in full flight.
He
next plays Matthew Stevens, who secured a morale boosting 6-2 victory over John
Higgins earlier today to reach the last 16.
4 comments:
For such a prestigious tournament the size of these pockets are a joke.
Says it all when we've had 43 centuries already and we haven't even reached the quarter finals. Surely does no favours for the game and where will it all end?
On a different note, after reading Ronnie's autobiography it's astounding what he's been able to achieve in snooker after such a turbulent life.
Pockets are tight as usual, good quality snooker actually!
Maybe Joe / Neil could give an appraisal of the pockets before I make my appointment with Specsavers.
I've got to ask how a ripe tomato can calm you down?!
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