Ding Junhui overcame dizziness and a fever to edge defending champion Mark Allen 6-5 in a repeat of last year’s final on day one of the MrQ UK Championship in York.
The 2022 title match saw Allen rally from 6-1 down to overhaul Ding on his way to earning a stunning 10-7 victory and becoming UK Champion for the first time. The Northern Irishman came into this year’s event in strong form, having won the recent Champion of Champions, but today’s result sees him suffer an early exit. It’s the first time he’s lost his opening match in York since 2012.
China’s three-time UK Champion Ding had to come through two qualifying rounds to earn his place in the final stages, after being edged out of the world’s top 16 by compatriot Zhang Anda and Tom Ford. Following today’s game he admitted he was close to pulling out of the tournament after becoming unwell in recent days.
The first frame saw Allen come flying out of the blocks, crafting a break of 67 to move 1-0 ahead. A dramatic second went the way of Ding, who cleared with 50 to steal on the final ball, culminating with a tricky cut back black to make it 1-1. Ding then took a tight third frame on the pink, before breaks of 47 and 30 in the fourth saw Allen head into the mid-session level at 2-2.
When play resumed Allen took charge of proceedings, runs of 106 and 60 moved him 4-2 ahead. Ding appeared to be struggling visibly in his chair, but he somehow summoned his best snooker despite that just when he required it. Contributions of 79 and 63 helped him to restore parity at 4-4.
Allen had an opportunity to move one from victory, but ran out of position on 65. Ding ruthlessly stepped up and cleared with 71 to go 5-4 ahead. Allen forced the decider with a break of 70 in a fiercely fought 10th frame. The Pistol had the first chance in the decider, but an unexpected missed red to the left middle left the door open for Ding, who obliged with 102 to claim victory. He now plays either Tom Ford or Noppon Saengkham.
“Every time he made 60 or 50 and I had a chance, I was straight into the black ball area. I made the points that I could. I didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself. I couldn’t think about it that way, because I don’t feel very good,” admitted 14-time ranking event winner Ding.
“I was in the doctors to get some tablets and they haven’t worked yet. In the morning I couldn’t even stand. I thought I maybe wouldn’t be able to play today. I just made it happen and I felt a bit better before the match started. I was thinking of just giving a walkover for this game. I tried to play.”
Allen said: “It was a strange game. I felt like I was in complete control in so many frames and kept losing the frames I was ahead in. I was 5-4 down and I didn’t know how. On another day I win that match 6-1. If you don’t take your chances in this game they come back to bite you and Ding made a good break in the last.
“I’m disappointed to lose. I don’t want to go out in the first round of the UK, but I played well there. I played much better than Ding did. It was just one of those strange games that happens now and again. I did all of the scoring in the game. There were just a few silly mental errors on safeties.”
On the other table, three-time World Champion Mark Williams secured a hard fought 6-4 win over former European Masters winner Fan Zhengyi.
The Welshman composed breaks of 54, 61 and 86 on his way to victory. Next up he faces either Kyren Wilson or Jamie Clarke.
Williams said: “It was a good win for me. I didn’t play too well to be honest. I got a brand new tip on yesterday. The table was really reactive and was excellent. The crowd was excellent. What an atmosphere walking in there, I just didn’t play too well. I’m happy to get through and I potted a good long red in the last frame.”
