Ding Junhui landed the 13th ranking title of his career with a dominant 10-3 victory over Kyren Wilson at the World Open in Yushan on Sunday. The world number three further enhanced his excellent record on home soil and has now won six ranking titles in China. Ding was in control of the final in Yushan from the word go, racing into a 6-1 lead in the first session before Wilson had found his feet. The Englishman, who negotiated a tense final-frame decider to clinch a 6-5 victory over Mark Allen in the semi-finals, grabbed the final two frames of that session to trail by three but there was to be no glorious comeback.
Buoyed on by the partisan home crowd, Ding emerged strongest in the final session to take the opening three frames and move within one of victory at 9-3, despite Wilson having chances to reduce the arrears. The final frame rather summed up Wilson’s day. He spurned a chance to win with a long pink, leaving ice-cool Ding to roll in the penultimate ball with deadly precision and leave the simplest of blacks to complete his win.
Victory for Ding, 12 years after his maiden tournament win as a teenager, carries great significance for China’s top performer, as he moved to number two in the world rankings. Ding has also now moved to sixth on the all-time list of ranking titles won, moving clear of both Mark Selby and Neil Robertson, who both have 12 to their name.
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