The Chinese mainland veteran Ding Junhui edged into the last 16 of the World Snooker Tour Xi'an Grand Prix with a thrilling 5-3 win over Louis Heathcote on Thursday.
Ding set the tone early with breaks of 52 and a century to race into a 2-0 lead. After trading frames to 3-1 before the interval, Heathcote hit back with a thunderous 121, narrowing the gap. Ding responded emphatically with a 115 in the sixth and closed out the match with a composed 50 in the eighth.
"I did not perform very well today and I failed to pocket some balls. That's how competitions go," Ding admitted after the match. "I don't know what will happen. Sometimes I don't think I can miss, but then it happens."
The win not only showcases Ding's resilience but also keeps him firmly in the hunt for a quarter-final spot. Snooker fans worldwide will be watching as he looks to build on this momentum in the next round.
Reference(s):
Snooker veteran Ding Junhui advances to last 16 at Xi'an Grand Prix
cgtn.com
