Grab your cue and get ready, snooker fans! 🎱 The Chinese mainland veteran Ding Junhui is through to the last 16 at the World Snooker Tour Xi'an Grand Prix after a thrilling 5-3 win over Louis Heathcote on Thursday.
Ding set the tone with a solid 52 break, then dropped jaws with a century to take an early 2-0 lead. Heathcote fought back to level at 2-2, but Ding kept his cool to go 3-1 up before the break.
Post-interval, Heathcote landed a thunderous 121 that cut the lead to 3-2, but Ding responded like a true champion, firing in a 115 to reclaim momentum. The match went to a nail-biting frame seven, where Heathcote closed in, but Ding sealed the deal with a calm 50 in the eighth.
“I did not perform very well today and I failed to pocket some balls. That's how competitions go,” Ding admitted. “I don't know what will happen. Sometimes I don't think I can miss, but then it happens.”
Next up, Ding will face another top contender in the last 16. Can he keep the energy high and chase that trophy all the way home? Stay tuned! 🚀
Reference(s):
Snooker veteran Ding Junhui advances to last 16 at Xi'an Grand Prix
cgtn.com
