Teenager wins snooker crown (China Daily) Updated: 2005-04-04 01:10 A snooker craze is expected to sweep China as the
nation's snooker prodigy Ding Junhui wrote himself into the history books with a
landmark victory of Scotland's snooker legend Stephen Hendry yesterday in
Beijing.
 Teenager Ding Junhui shares his victory with
his mother Chen Xijuan yesterday in Beijing after winning his first world
title at the 2005 World Snooker China Open. Ding beat seven-time Scottish
world champion Stephen Hendry 9-5 after a 4-4 tie in the first half of
afternoon play. [newsphoto] | With the victory
which saw Ding come from the qualifiers to win six consecutive matches before
lifting the shining trophy in front of Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan and over 1,500
screaming fans, there is little doubt the spring time of the sport is just round
the corner.
"I felt very confident amid the supporting crowd," said an excited Ding. "I
want to express my appreciation to the people who have helped me over the past
years."
Ding, No 54 in the Tour rankings, gave seven-time world champion Hendry
little room in Beijing's Haidian stadium to move in the best-of-17 match before
sealing a 9-5 victory.
 Ding Junhui,
China, shakes hands with Stephen Hendry, Scotland, during the final
of the 2005 World Snooker China Open in Beijing, April 3. 17-year-old
Ding beat Hendry 9-5 to win the game.
[sina]
| "This is a significant victory for the country," said Hu Jianguo, director of
the national multi-ball administrative centre. "Ding's success is the result of
years of hard-work as well as the achievement of generations of snooker players
in China."
The efforts of Ding, who celebrated his 18th birthday just three days ago,
have helped the sport gain increasing popularity in a country traditionally
dominated by badminton and table tennis.
"I saw a few games played by Ding on TV and I found them very interesting,"
said Li Wei, a sports fan who was at the final.
"I came here and I was totally entranced by the game and it even reminded me
of the 2004 Athens Olympics," she said.
 China's prodigy
Ding Junhui prepares to to hit the ball during the 2005 World Snooker
China Open in Beijing April 1, 2005. Ding survives Stephen Hendry from
Scotland 9-5 to win the game. [sina] | Dubbed the Oriental Star, Ding injected fresh blood into the
British-dominated sport with his first Asian Championship title in 2002, making
him the youngest Asian champion. He rapidly progressed to the Main Tour after
becoming the first ever Chinese world champion at the World Youth Championships.
Ding then reached the top 16 at the 2004 British Open and the quarter-finals
at the Wembley Masters this year before taking out the international title
yesterday.
"He is a talented player and has great potential," said world No 1 Ronnie
O'Sullivan. "I think he will be a leading player in the pro tours in the
future."
World No 9 Peter Ebdon, who was second best to Ding in the quarter-finals of
the tournament, also had high praise for the youngster. "Ding is the best
teenage player I have seen in recent years. If he can continue his form just
like he showed during the event, there is no one that can defeat him."
Ebdon, who pocketed his World Snooker Championships title at the age of 32,
said it would not be too long before Ding becomes a world champion.
"He is certainly one of the best contenders for the world championship and I
am sure he will get it at a younger age than me."
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