SPORTS> Ding Junhui in Spotlight
Ding out after 1st round in Welsh
(Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-03-23 18:21

Chinese teenage snooker sensation Ding Junhui was not in a class of his own at the Snooker Welsh Open as he was knocked out 1-5 by the world 21st ranking Jamie Cope in their best of nine sets game during the first round of the tournament.

This was Ding's second early exit at Open tournament after he missed his first chance to cruise to British Masters title in January when he lost to former world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-10.

It was a long time deadlock in the first frame when Cope slotted one count only in the fifth minute. He then never let Ding return to the table after the Chinese teenager slotted a red ball but lost cue ball as well until he made a brilliant 115 breaks to end the first fame.

Cope missed two counts and Ding coolly took the advantage to slot home 38 counts in row to increase his lead in the second frame. Ding wrapped up the frame 81-18 after his rival got back only four counts to draw 1-1.

But for the next three frames it was Cope who went to the mid-session break with a 4-1 lead.

During the deciding sixth frame, Cope never spared the 23-count-bearing Ding a second chance until he slotted 84 counts to send the Chinese star home.