Ding takes cues from home crowd

Chinese snooker champion credits raucous local support as key factor in win over Wakelin

After nearly five years without a title, China's Ding Junhui triumphed in front of a raucous home crowd at the World Snooker Tour International Championship in Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu province, on Sunday.

Ding defeated England's Chris Wakelin 10-7, claiming his first major title since 2019, when he secured his third UK Championship. The win marked a dramatic turnaround for Ding, who has lost the last three finals he has played. It's also the 15th ranking title of his career.

At the post-match award ceremony, Ding was joined by his father, wife and two young daughters, who shared his big moment.

"I didn't know my family would be at the trophy presentation — it was great to see them," Ding said. "My daughters have never seen me win a title in person. When I won the UK Championship, my eldest daughter was still in bed."

Ding delivered a series of impressive performances throughout the tournament, defeating world No 2 Kyren Wilson in the quarterfinals and overcoming fellow countryman Xu Si in the semifinals.

This marked Ding's 24th career ranking event final. In their previous two encounters, Ding and his opponent Wakelin had each won a game apiece, the most recent being Ding's 3-5 loss to Wakelin in the round of 16 at the Wuhan Open in May.

In the final on Sunday, however, the 37-year-old Ding rallied from a 4-1 deficit, winning six consecutive frames to take a 7-4 lead.

He then held off a determined fightback from Wakelin to secure a 10-7 victory.

"He is very well-rounded and extremely dangerous," Ding said of Wakelin after the match. He pinpointed winning the eighth and ninth frames as the crucial turning point that set the foundation for his eventual triumph.

Ding Junhui poses with the trophy after ending his five-year title drought in Nanjing on Sunday. LIU JIANMIN/FOR CHINA DAILY

"In today's match, I focused on keeping my rhythm and tightening up my defense, looking for any opportunity to gain the upper hand," Ding said.

The International Championship, held from Nov 3 to 10, offered a total prize purse of 825,000 pounds ($1.06 million). China provided three of the top four finishers in Nanjing, after some exceptional performances from homegrown talent. The defending champion was Chinese player Zhang Anda.

Ding said that he was energized by the passionate support of the crowd. Born in Yixing, Jiangsu province, Ding said that whenever he competes in China, every venue feels like home. "The fans here always back the Chinese players, and I really felt that support today. I'm thrilled to have such strong backing."

"I tried to stay focused on the match," he added. "External factors can be helpful, but ultimately, the key is to concentrate on each shot — that's the only way to play at your best."

The victory marked Ding's second International Championship title, netting him a bonus of 175,000 pounds.

Ding's last title came at the 2019 UK Championship, where he defeated Stephen Maguire 10-6. Nearly five years and three finals later, he faced tough losses to Mark Allen in the 2022 UK Championship, Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2023 UK Championship, and Judd Trump at the 2024 World Open.

With this latest victory, Ding has climbed to No 8 in the world rankings, reaffirming his place among snooker's elite.

Reflecting on his journey, Ding said, "There were times over the past five years when I played well, but I often lost early. I didn't have a consistent run to the quarterfinals or semifinals, so it was either an early exit or going all the way. That's been the story of most of my career."

Smiling, he added: "It hasn't just been tough for me; my fans have gone through it all with me. They've stuck by me through every high and low. I made it through — and so did they."

Dong Hao, director of the Nanjing Sports Bureau, noted that the tournament not only showcased Chinese snooker, but also provided a significant opportunity for Nanjing's sports development to gain international attention.

"In recent years, Nanjing has strengthened its ties with international sports organizations, successfully hosting a number of major global events. This ancient, yet modern, city is accelerating its growth and development through sports," Dong said.