Ding Junhui is into his first World Championship final after defeating Alan McManus 17-11 in the last four in Sheffield. The Chinese superstar compiled an incredible seven centuries – a record in a Crucible match – as he held off a gutsy challenge from the Scottish 45 year-old. Resuming 14-10[Read More…]
Tag: Ding Junhui
It’s There! Tipping Point
Returning after the success of last year is our inconspicuous snooker aficionado, Free Ball. Throughout the World Championship, this unnamed follower of our beloved sport will provide a few musings on some of the not so well documented happenings in Sheffield – mostly from the luxury of his/her own settee. The[Read More…]
Crunch Time in Semi-Finals
By the end of Saturday the two finalists in the 2016 Betfred World Championship will be known. A dramatic penultimate day of semi-final action on Friday has left both encounters delicately poised, but China’s Ding Junhui has one foot in the showpiece final. The 11-time ranking event winner has conjured[Read More…]
Crucible Contenders Down to Final Four
What started as 144, now stands as quite simply the last four. One of Mark Selby, Marco Fu, Ding Junhui or Alan McManus will be crowned the 2016 Betfred world champion on Monday. For Selby and Fu, they have each already won 36 frames of snooker to get to this[Read More…]
Ding Junhui Powers into Last Four
Ding Junhui became the first man into the semi-finals of this year’s World Championship after thrashing Mark Williams 13-3 in Sheffield. The Chinese no.1 required only two out of the scheduled three sessions to oust the twice former champion as he sent out a message to the other contenders for[Read More…]
World Championship: Quarter-Final Preview
From 144, only eight remain in the hunt to claim the 2016 Betfred World Championship in Sheffield. It’s certainly not the octet that most people predicted to be featuring at this stage of proceedings at the Crucible Theatre. Several of the expected heavy hitters have fallen by the wayside but[Read More…]
Hawkins Holding Rocket at Bay
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump are struggling to stay in this year’s Betfred World Championship as both trail overnight in the second round in Sheffield. O’Sullivan has compiled three tons and four further breaks above 68 but finds himself 9-7 down to a resilient Barry Hawkins. Hawkins lost to the ‘Rocket’[Read More…]
Ding Junhui Passes First Test
Qualifier Ding Junhui came from 8-6 down to beat Martin Gould 10-8 in a thrilling first round encounter in the World Championship on Wednesday. The Chinese no.1, an eleven-time ranking event winner, was forced to qualify for the tournament after dropping out of the elite top 16 in the world[Read More…]
16 World Championship Qualifiers Confirmed
The World Championship qualifiers came to a conclusion on Wednesday with 16 players emerging from Ponds Forge to complete the last 32 line-up at the Crucible. As always, there was plenty of drama and tension in Sheffield as a coveted place in the main draw was at stake, and it[Read More…]
Drama Unfolding as Qualifiers Reach Conclusion
The first day of the final round of qualifying for the Betfred World Championship took place on Tuesday. Wednesday’s Judgement Day is set up nicely with an appropriate balance of runaway ties and close encounters to follow, as 16 hopefuls attempt to book their coveted spots at the Crucible. This[Read More…]