Ding Junhui survives rankings scare to make main draw of World Championship at Sheffield'sCrucible
DING JUNHUI was probably the most relieved player after watching last week’s Tour Championship in Manchester.
For the Sheffield-based potter was forced to watch on from the sidelines with his top-16 spot in the world rankings - which would earn him a direct placement for this month’s World Championship at the Crucible - in jeopardy.
A win for Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Manchester - banking the £150,000 top prize - would have seen him knock world No 16 Ding down the rankings.
But defeat for Un-Nooh - who won the recent World Open, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final - to Barry Hawkins in Manchester means the Thai cueman must enter the World Championship qualifiers, which start on Monday at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport.
And 39-year-old Ding will join the seeds for the Crucible, which cues off on Saturday April 18, with the draw to be held on Thursday April 16.
Ding – who has lived in Sheffield for over 20 years and owns the Ding Junhui Academy in the city – was a trailblazer for snooker in China and has won nearly everything in the game, apart from the World Championship.
The closest he came to winning at the Crucible was in 2016, when he had to come through qualifying, before losing to Mark Selby 18-14 in the final.
Ding will be one of five Chinese players in the top 16 - who all live and train in the Steel City - which includes defending world champion Zhao Xintong, Xiao Guodong, Wu Yize and Si Jiahui.
Eight Yorkshire players enter the qualifiers, needing to win unto four matches to reach the Crucible.
Leeds veteran Peter Lines is first up this morning against Brazil’s Jonas Luz, before York’s Liam Pullen and Rotherham’s Ashley Carty. Pullen plays Shoot Out champion Alfie Burden, while Carty - who has regained his Tour status for next season - must overcome Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Wai.
On Wednesday, there is an all-Yorkshire tie between Leeds’ David Grace and York’s Ashley Hugill - another player who will be back on the main professional Tour next season.
Leeds duo Sanderson Lam and Oliver Lines - son of Peter - enter at the second round stage on Wednesday, before Halifax teenager Stan Moody joins in the third round next Sunday.
Tickets for the qualifiers are £12 per day, and can be purchased on the day at the EIS.