Ding Junhui reached the final of the UK Snooker Championship after defeating Tom Ford.
The three-time champions reached their Final Four with a 6-3 victory over the Barbican in York.
Ding had beaten Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-0 in the quarter-finals when the world number one suffered his first defeat at a Triple Crown event in his 30-year career and led 5-0 in the semi-finals before Ford fought back. .
“I missed a great chance to win 6-0,” Ding told the World Snooker Tour. “I got the wrong shots with the colored balls and he started to play more relaxed. I looked away a bit and maybe lost my focus a bit.
“He hasn’t lost anything in the last few frames. I love playing here, since the first time I beat Steve Davis in 2005, I love this place. I always feel good at the Barbican.”
Ding is aiming for the title he last won in 2019 and opened up a 5-0 lead as another vindication appeared to be on the cards.
But world number 32 Ford, who defeated Joe Perry 6-4 in the quarter-finals, fought back to bring the score to 5-3 with breaks of 77, 64 and 64.
Another break of 64 gave him a chance to make it 5-4, but Ding was able to finish him off to make the ninth frame 75-64 and reach Sunday’s final.
He will face either Mark Allen or Jack Lisowski, who will play in the other semi-final on Saturday night.
Ding Junhui reached the final of the UK Snooker Championship after defeating Tom Ford.
The three-time champions reached their Final Four with a 6-3 victory over the Barbican in York.
Ding had beaten Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-0 in the quarter-finals when the world number one suffered his first defeat at a Triple Crown event in his 30-year career and led 5-0 in the semi-finals before Ford fought back. .
“I missed a great chance to win 6-0,” Ding told the World Snooker Tour. “I got the wrong shots with the colored balls and he started to play more relaxed. I looked away a bit and maybe lost my focus a bit.
“He hasn’t lost anything in the last few frames. I love playing here, since the first time I beat Steve Davis in 2005, I love this place. I always feel good at the Barbican.”
Ding is aiming for the title he last won in 2019 and opened up a 5-0 lead as another vindication appeared to be on the cards.
But world number 32 Ford, who defeated Joe Perry 6-4 in the quarter-finals, fought back to bring the score to 5-3 with breaks of 77, 64 and 64.
Another break of 64 gave him a chance to make it 5-4, but Ding was able to finish him off to make the ninth frame 75-64 and reach Sunday’s final.
He will face either Mark Allen or Jack Lisowski, who will play in the other semi-final on Saturday night.
Agatha Christie is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, books, and current affairs. She is committed to producing accurate, informative content that helps readers stay informed about the latest developments in the UK and beyond.
