China's Ding survives first battle at Snooker World Championship

Ding Junhui of China plays a shot during the round 1 match between Ding Junhui of China and Joe Perry of England at Snooker Masters 2020 at the Alexandra Palace in London, Britain, Jan. 12, 2020. Perry won 6 frames to 3. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

China's Ding survives first battle at Snooker World Championship.

LONDON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's highest-ranked player, Ding Junhui edged out Mark King 10-9 in the first round at the Snooker World Championship on Saturday to book a last 16 berth against five-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan or Thai player Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Ding, leading King 5-4 after Friday's first session, was tied by his resilient opponent four times in the second session but never fell behind. The 33-year-old world number 11 finally won the match 10-9.

Ding went back to China when all sporting events were suspended in England in the middle of March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He pulled out of the Snooker Tour Championships in June to avoid extensive travel as a safety precaution but decided to take part in the biggest annual snooker tournament in Sheffield.

"After 14 days of quarantine, I only had eight or nine days to get ready for the World Championship," Ding told the World Snooker Tour website. "I'm not sure I can play well with that little practice, I will just try. I am looking forward to the second round and I am looking to improve my game. Whoever I play, I want to win."

In other first-round matches on Saturday, Mark Williams defeated Alan McManus 10-5. Stuart Bingham beat Ashley Carty 10-7.

The reigning world champion and world number one Judd Trump came from 5-2 down to knock out qualifier Tom Ford 10-8 on Friday. His second rival will be China's hopeful Yan Bingtao or Elliot Slessor. ■