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Ding fights back for first Worlds quarter

(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-26 09:45

Ding Junhui of China (L) and Stuart Bingham of England compete during their second round match in the 2011 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, England, April 24, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

SHEFFIELD, Endland – China's Ding Junhui staged a dramatic comeback from 9-12 down to defeat England's Stuart Bingham 13-12 and reach the world championship quarter-finals for the first time.

The Chinese star has won the UK Championship and Masters events in his career but has struggled in Sheffield, despite it being his adopted home city.

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Ding will next face England's Mark Selby who defeated seven-time champion Stephen Hendry.

Breaks of 92 and 114 on Monday had seen Ding cut the deficit to 12-11 in the evening session and he opened the next with a 58.

Bingham had a chance to clear up, but was unlucky to snooker himself on 34, and eventually lost it on the colours.

In the decider, Bingham made 30, then Ding responded with 55.

It came down to a safety battle on the last two reds, and, trapped in a snooker behind the pink, Bingham fouled and left his opponent a clear chance. Ding added 10 points and sealed victory with a long green.

"In the first two sessions he was taking all his chances, I knew I couldn't fall too far behind because it's hard to come back," said Ding.

"But at 12-9 I still believed I could win. I told myself anything can happen and I just need to win four frames. It feels different, to win my first 25-frame match here."

Bingham said: "I felt really good at 12-9, I thought it was meant to be. But as soon as you think that, it goes against you. I had chances in the last couple of frames but it didn't happen. Ding is a class player and took his chances well."

Former champion Ronnie O'Sullivan set up a quarter-final clash with John Higgins.

O'Sullivan converted a 9-7 two-session lead over Shaun Murphy into a 13-10 triumph, scoring early breaks of 128 and 119 and then surviving a scare when his opponent began to fight back.

"No matter how badly I've played, I've still come to win," said O'Sullivan. "Making the quarter-finals, it's not about that. It's about being the best, being the winner."