UK Championship: Ding survives opening day Barbican scare

DING Junhui was on the verge of suffering a shock early exit from the Betway UK Championship for the third year running but claims he never lost the faith after sneaking through to round two with a 6-5 triumph.
Ding Junhui during his match against Igor Figueriedo.Ding Junhui during his match against Igor Figueriedo.
Ding Junhui during his match against Igor Figueriedo.

The Sheffield-based Chinese superstar appeared to be on cruise control as he raced into a 4-1 lead at the York Barbican, only for world No.124 Igor Figueiredo to fight back and move within a frame of victory at 5-4.

But Ding – winner of the event in 2005 and 2009 – dug deep to level the match by clinching frame ten and although Figueiredo got in first in the decider, the world No.5 produced a nerveless 74 clearance to snatch it.

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Twelve months ago Ding lost to Sheffield amateur Adam Duffy in the first round of the UK Championship, while in 2014 he was knocked out by 18-year-old James Cahill but this time around he refused to let his head drop.

“From 4-1 up to 5-4 down I kept telling myself it wasn’t finished yet and I just needed to carry on,” explained Ding.

“I knew I wasn’t scoring that well but I just wanted to get a few points and then play good safety.

“I was still confident and I wanted to take it to a decider because I think I have played more of them than him.

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“I want to try and ignore the pressure, I don’t want to think ‘this is the UK Championship, this is a big event’. I just need to go in, try hard to win matches and play the best I can.

“Every time I make a mistake, I need to forgive myself and that is one of the hardest things for me.

“I still have some emotions and anger in the matches but I try to keep them down and just wait for my next chance.

“I will get back to practice now and hopefully I will find some better form.”

Follow the UK Championship LIVE on Eurosport with Colin Murray, Jimmy White, Neal Foulds and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

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