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Jonathan White

Chinese snooker star Ding Junhui beat Stephen Maguire to win his first UK Championship in a decade on Sunday night in York.
Ding, who won the tournament in both 2005 and 2009, held off the Scotsman 10-6 and became one of only five snooker stars to lift the trophy three times. He also took home £200,000 (US$263,000) in prize money.
The win at The Barbican takes the 32-year-old former world No 1 from 16th in the world rankings up to ninth.
Ding paid tribute to his family after this first major title since 2011, saying that his infant daughter was his inspiration.

2005
2009
2019

Ding Junhui becomes only the fifth player in snooker history to win three UK Championship titles pic.twitter.com/tUVqz3NhZT
— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) December 8, 2019

“In the interval I was watching my daughter’s video and I can imagine she’s walking around,” he said after being handed the trophy. “It takes the pressure off.”
“They give me their full support. My wife watches my game. I know my daughter doesn’t understand this yet, but I want to do my best so when she grows up she thinks she has the best daddy.”

CHAMPION | Ding Junhui has defeated Stephen Maguire 10-6 to win the Betway UK Championship for the third time in his career!

The Chinese star takes home the top prize of £200,000 and will climb to no.9⃣ in the updated world rankings.#baizeofglory pic.twitter.com/IYoEWefapa
— WPBSA (@WPBSAofficial) December 8, 2019

Ding expressed his relief at a first ranking tournament win in two years.
“It’s very special. I’ve been two years done nothing. I played very well this week”, he said. “I worry about because I’m not doing well. I’m asking myself, ‘Can I win again?’ the answer was always no.”
“But this week I was so confident and play so well, beat Ronnie [O’Sullivan] on the way to the final, starting to believe in myself I can lift the trophy again and actually I’ve made it.”

China's top snooker player Ding Junhui ended his two-year trophy drought by clinched UK Championship title after defeating Stephen Maguire 10-6 in the final pic.twitter.com/Vb559dkwQc
— Xinhua Sports (@XHSports) December 9, 2019

The snooker star indicated he was back to his best with victory in York.
“It means many things, people have been looking forward to me to win titles, and for me and my family.[Fans in China] They’ll be watching overnight so thanks to everyone supporting me. Ding is back. I’ll keep going.”
Ding’s friend and rival O’Sullivan, who was the defending champion, paid his own tribute to the Chinese star.

Congratulations once again to Ding Junhui! pic.twitter.com/HWuoJoA7pB
— WPBSA (@WPBSAofficial) December 8, 2019

“He’s pure class, even in his speech, he’s a class act, unbelievable. Very rarely do you get people like that. He could be like the godfather of the mafia, like Al Pacino, he carries himself so well.”
“For snooker in China it’s the best thing to see him playing well, it would be nice to see him sustain it for eight or 10 years.”
“The Rocket” had expressed fears earlier in the tournament that Ding’s career could be on the slide, likening the current snooker circuit to the rigours of football’s English Premier League in winter.

Earlier in the tournament, Ronnie O'Sullivan was asked about the apparent decline of Ding Junhui.

"I don't know if he will make it back to be honest. If he doesn't sort it out sooner than later, he could easily drop out of the top 50."

Ding sorted it out very soon! pic.twitter.com/GTgidFYeQX
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 8, 2019

“I think it’s a bit like a footballer playing in the Spanish league, nice weather and all that sort of stuff,” O’Sullivan said ahead of playing Ding.
“They come to the Premier League and it gets to October, November, December, January, February and they just don’t really relish the cold weather and going up to play some of these teams they have to play.
“I think Ding is that type of person, he doesn’t really relish the new model of snooker, where you have to get in, do your qualifiers, maybe be put on an outside table where no one is watching you. Some people are OK with it and some people don’t like it and I just don’t think Ding enjoys it.

Ding Junhui seems a smashing fella. Would love to see him become world snooker champion

After winning UK Championship, he was asked about his young daughter

‘I know my daughter doesn’t understand this yet but I wanna do my best and when she grows up, she has the best daddy’
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) December 8, 2019

“I don’t know if he’ll make it back, to be honest with you. I know he’s only young but there’s a lot of competition out there. If he doesn’t sort it out sooner rather than later he could easily drop out of the top 40 or top 50, because the matches are not easy.
Instead Ding is back in the top 10 as he heads to the Scottish Open, which runs from December 9 to 15 in Glasgow.


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World Snooker

Ding Junhui wins UK Championship over Steven Maguire, says he is ‘back to his best’ after winning trophy for third time

Britain's Stephen Maguire and China's Ding Junhui look on during the final of the 2019 UK Championship. Photo: AP

Women’s snooker returns to Crucible for Tour Championship but deserves to be more than just a sideshow to men’s game

Reanne Evans and Ng On-yee prepare for their Tour Championship final at The Crucible in Sheffield on August 17, 2019. Photo: World Snooker

Borrirak Jongchotchatchawal (left) and assistant Benny at the Hi-End Snooker Club in Bangkok.

Ng On-yee plays a shot during the preliminary rounds of the 2019 world championship at Hi-End Snooker Club in Bangkok.

World Snooker Championship: Ding Junhui still shoulders China burden despite years of investment in the future

Ding Junhui of China leaves after losing to Judd Trump in the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible. Photo: Xinhua

This photo taken on May 2, 2017 shows 19-year-old Xu Si playing a shot during practice at the World Snooker College in Beijing. At the World Snooker College in China's capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of billiard tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Clad in T-shirts and baggy sweatpants, the lanky teenage students at the Beijing boarding school -- the first of its kind in China -- practise snooker eight hours a day in the hopes of following in the footsteps of their idol Ding Junhui. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker / TO GO WITH Snooker-CHN-Ding, FOCUS by Yanan WANG

This photo taken on May 3, 2017 shows coach Hu Bing (L) watching over 13-year-old Ma Hailong during practice at the World Snooker College in Beijing. At the World Snooker College in China's capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of billiard tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Clad in T-shirts and baggy sweatpants, the lanky teenage students at the Beijing boarding school -- the first of its kind in China -- practise snooker eight hours a day in the hopes of following in the footsteps of their idol Ding Junhui. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker / TO GO WITH Snooker-CHN-Ding, FOCUS by Yanan WANG

Seven-time World Championship winner Stephen Hendry of Britain talks with three-year-old Wang Wuka (R) as they play snooker in Beijing, September 22, 2013. Wuka's father Wang Yin, a snooker fan, has been teaching his son the sport for more than two years. The boy, who vows to be a top snooker player, undergoes five hours of training daily to shoot the balls with precision. Picture taken September 22, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: SPORT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA

This photo taken on May 2, 2017 shows 13-year-old student Ma Hailong stretching to play a shot at the World Snooker College in Beijing. At the World Snooker College in China's capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of billiard tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Clad in T-shirts and baggy sweatpants, the lanky teenage students at the Beijing boarding school -- the first of its kind in China -- practise snooker eight hours a day in the hopes of following in the footsteps of their idol Ding Junhui. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker / TO GO WITH Snooker-CHN-Ding, FOCUS by Yanan WANG

(190430) -- SHEFFIELD, April 30, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui of China competes during the third session of the second round match between Ding Junhui of China and Judd Trump of England at World Snooker Championship 2019 in Sheffield, Britain on April 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Jon Super)

(190430) -- SHEFFIELD, April 30, 2019 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhou Yuelong (R) competes during the third session of the second round match between China's Zhou Yuelong and England's Ali Carter at World Snooker Championship 2019 in Sheffield, Britain on April 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Jon Super)

(060320) -- BEIJING, March 20, 2006 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui, 2005 China Open champion, hits the ball during his training for the 2006 World Snooker China Open Championships in Beijing, March 20, 2006. The tournament begins Monday at Beijing University Students Gymnasium and the final will be staged on Sunday. (Xinhua Photo/Meng Yongmin)(wll/why)

Ronnie O’Sullivan plants kiss on ‘brother’ Ding Junhui’s cheek after Masters win – just like he did in 2007

Ronnie O’Sullivan plants a kiss on Ding Junhui’s cheek after beating him in the Masters semi-finals in London. Photo: Xinhua

(190120) -- LONDON, Jan. 20, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui of China competes during his semifinal match against Ronnie O'Sullivan of England at Snooker Masters 2019 in London, Britain on Jan. 19, 2019. O'Sullivan won 6 to 3. (Xinhua/Tim Ireland)

‘Rocket’ Ronnie O’Sullivan blasts China’s Ding Junhui away in one-sided World Grand Prix final

Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed the 32nd title of his career with a convincing win over Ding Junhui in the final of the World Grand Prix in Preston. Photo: Xinhua

Ronnie O’Sullivan wants Ding Junhui over Mark Selby in World Grand Prix final to save snooker fans from late night

Ronnie O' Sullivan competes in a Hong Kong Masters match at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

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Victory in first major since 2011 comes after winning tournament in both 2005 and 2009
Ronnie O’Sullivan pays tribute to Chinese star after his own emotional celebration speech



Ronnie O’Sullivan pays tribute to Chinese star after his own emotional celebration speech.


Ding Junhui wins UK Championship over Steven Maguire, says he is ‘back to his best’ after winning trophy for third time

Victory in first major since 2011 comes after winning tournament in both 2005 and 2009 Ronnie O’Sullivan pays tribute to Chinese star after his own emotional celebration speech

Victory in first major since 2011 comes after winning tournament in both 2005 and 2009

Ronnie O’Sullivan pays tribute to Chinese star after his own emotional celebration speech