In a thrilling showdown at Sheffield's iconic Crucible Theater, China's Ding Junhui secured a 10-7 win over English qualifier Zak Surety in the World Snooker Championship. The match not only showcased Ding's comeback flair but also marked a historic debut for Surety, who became the first player to notch four century breaks on his Crucible debut! 🎱🔥
Ding started strong by winning the opening four frames, leading 6-3 after the first session. However, Surety quickly responded with a brilliant 109 break in frame 10 and then produced two more centuries – with breaks of 136 and 110 – to narrow the gap to 7-6. Despite his opponent's fiery performance, the 38-year-old Ding pulled off a remarkable turnaround, ending his streak of lost opening matches at the Crucible.
In the decisive moments, Ding turned up the heat with a stunning century of 116 followed by a calculated 75-point frame, wrapping up the match with a well-earned victory. Afterwards, he praised Surety's determined play, saying, "I think Surety performed very well during the match and kept attacking me. He tried to find opportunities to fight back. I focused on scoring more points." Such sportsmanship and competitive spirit truly lit up the arena!
Meanwhile, another exciting contest unfolded as China's Si Jiahui overcame last year's semifinalist David Gilbert 10-6. Si jumped out of the blocks with a 98 break in the opening frame and maintained his rhythm, even when Gilbert flashed an impressive 147 break and later strong runs of 104 and 102. With his spot in the last 16 secured, Si now awaits a clash with either Mark Selby or Ben Woollaston, promising more heart-pounding snooker drama.
Whether you're catching the action live on your mobile or discussing the bold moves over coffee, this championship is proving to be as dynamic and electrifying as your favorite tech drops and viral trends. Stay tuned for more epic moments on the snooker table! ✨
Reference(s):
Ding beats Surety 10-7 to reach World Snooker Championship last 16
cgtn.com
