China’s Ding Junhui during his match with Mark Selby in the final of the Betfred Snooker World Championships at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England, Monday, May 2, 2016.
Advertisement
But that gruelling duel only served to inspire 2014 champion Selby who won the next two frames to restore the Leicester player’s dominance and put himself in a position to lift the world title today, the same day that his hometown football team could be crowned Premier League champions.
Mark Selby took a comfortable 6-2 lead at the end of the first session of the World Snooker Championships final.
Ding is the first Asian to reach the final of snooker’s showpiece event and he appeared struck by stagefright as he lost the first six frames against world number one Selby. “Then I just had to go for it, but Mark played too well”. I m just over the moon.
Selby punched his fist in delight after scrambling over the line in the 17th and final frame of Sunday’s prolonged play, which included an epic 15th frame that lasted an astonishing 66 minutes, relieved to protect a lead that was in danger of collapse as Ding mounted a spirited recovery. I know I need to score.
“I know that they want me to well, to win it and bring the trophy back home, but I will remain calm and stay in my space because there is another match”.
But on Sunday the 29-year-old just failed to get started. It took one hour and 16 minutes.
However, though Ding, who lives in Sheffield and practices at the Star Snooker Academy at Shirecliffe, couldn’t find a way past Selby with the “Jester” turning in a thoroughly professional display, particularly in the final session.
In the third frame, the pressure looked to have gotten to Ding once again, as he missed a routine red while 43 points in front to hand Selby the chance to go 3-0 up-and he duly took it.
Yet his race looked run once and for all as firstly a nerveless 57 break saw Selby win the first frame of the evening before a brilliant clearance in the next saw him pinch it on the final black.
Having resumed the evening session tied at 12-12, Selby found it a struggle to shake off Fu’s close attention, which was perhaps no surprise given how keenly fought the contest was.
And of the players mentioned he most closely resembles Higgins, for the excellence of his match play and all-round skills, and the ability to win crucial matches with his B game.
It was another memorable final – particularly when the form of these players this season is considered.
Asked if the disapproval of his performances upset him, Selby said: “Not really”.
Breaks of 52 and 68 then assured Selby would lead going into the concluding session.
Advertisement
McManus, 45, is confident Ding can carry off the title, with Mark Selby and Marco Fu vying to join him in the final.
