Ding Jinhui beats Marco Fu as China reach last eight of World Team Cup
World number four edges the fifth-ranked Hong Kong player in the deciding rubber to give his team a 3-2 victory
Hong Kong were knocked out of snooker’s World Team Cup in Wuxi on Friday after a narrow 3-2 loss to hosts China.
Represented by Marco Fu Ka-chun, the world number five and Au Chi-wai, Hong Kong gave the hosts a good run, tying the encounter at 2-2 in the best-of-five group B match, but in the end, Fu was beaten by Ding Junhui, the world number four, 67-51.
Belgium, who beat China and Hong Kong in previous matches, topped the group despite a 3-2 defeat by Ireland in another match.
Hong Kong and China needed victory to join Belgium in the quarter-finals and Fu gave Hong Kong a flying start following a 61-34 win over Liang Wenbo.
But Ding levelled the score before the mainlanders won the doubles.
Then Au pulled off a 66-37 victory over Liang before Ding won the decisive rubber to book China a place in the last eight, where they will meet Wales.