English Open 2021: China snooker star Ding Junhui ends 259-day wait for win
- Victory over Andrew Pagett at the English Open sees all-Chinese tie against Tian Pengfei up next for former world No 1
- Masters champion Yan Bingtao among 10 Chinese players looking for a place in round of 32 in Milton Keynes but Ng On-yee misses out
China’s top snooker star Ding Junhui ended a 259-day wait for a win with victory over Andrew Pagett in the English Open.
Ding went 1-0 down after the opening frame but bounced back to beat the Welshman by winning the next four frames to progress 4-1.
The 34-year-old made a break of 60 in the second frame, a 51 break in the fourth frame and a 53 break to open the final frame.
Ding’s win, which came in one of 17 qualifiers held over to the main venue, also ended a five-match losing streak this year.
China’s top ranked player – the former world No 1 – moves on to the round of 64 having not won since beating Lyu Haotian in the Welsh Open in February.
The No 10 seed will face fellow Chinese player Tian Pengfei for a place in the third round at the Home Nations tournament.
Higgins downs Yan to set up final against hometown hero Allen
Ding and Tian are joined by No 15 seed Yan Bingtao in the next round, where the 2020 Masters winner plays Nigel Bond.
Elsewhere, No 32 seed Xiao Guodong plays Steven Hallworth, Cao Yupeng plays Mark King, Wu Yize plays Ross Muir, and there is an all- Chinese affair between Xu Si and No 25 seed Zhao Xintong.
China’s Li Hang plays Ali Carter and Lu Ning takes on Allan Taylor to round out Chinese interest.
There was no place for Hong Kong’s Ng On-yee after she lost to Stuart Bingham. The 30-year-old is yet to win on tour after moving to England ahead of German Open qualifying last month.
She and Reanne Evans, the only two women given tour cards this season, both lost their qualifying round matches.
The English Open takes place from November 1-7 at the Marshall Stadium in Milton Keynes. It is the fourth ranking event of the 2021-22 season.
