China’s top snooker star Ding Junhui had a problem.
He was asking himself this question over and over in his mind, could he win again? He said.
The 32-year-old was worried as he hadn’t won a Triple Crown Major since 2011.
But now, the Chinese snooker star, who won his first ranking event in 2005, scooped his third UK Championship in York, 10 years after winning his second UK title in 2009.
Ding defeated Scotland’s Stephen Maguire 10 – 6 in a high-scoring powerhouse of a match which saw a string of centuries from both players and ended with Ding powering to the win with yet another century.
Ding Major Happy…
Stephen Maguire played his part in a thrilling final, as he battled in the first session from 4 – 0 down to only trail by two frames at the end of the first session.
Maguire, also seeking a second UK title, not having won since 2004, had possibly peaked too early in his semi-final match with Mark Allen, whom he demolished in a fantastic 6 – 0 whitewash.
Ding pocketed the 200K at the Barbican and books a place in the Champion of Champions next year, along with Neil Robertson and Judd Trump.
UK Championship: Other Notable Performances…
There was also the pick of the tournament, 54-year-old Nigel Bond, a silver oldie from yesteryear, who managed to reach his first Major quarter-final since 2003, who had on route to his QF knocked out the current World Champion Judd Trump.
There was also a good run for the 2005 World Championship finalist Welshman Matthew Stevens, rolling back the years in York reaching a QF. He won the UK in 2003.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT MAJOR WIN FOR BOND BELOW…