Dominant Ding zaps Zhou, moves on

SHEFFIELD, England - China's Ding Junhui moved on to the second round of the World Championship with a 10-5 win over teenage compatriot Zhou Yuelong at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on Tuesday.

Ding, beaten in last year's final as England's Mark Selby thwarted his bid to become the first Asian player to win the title, resumed with a 7-2 overnight lead.

However, 19-year-old Zhou cut the deficit to 7-4 thanks to breaks of 60 and 93 against his hero.

On Monday, Ding rattled off three centuries, including the two highest breaks of the tournament so far - 136 and 132.

However, there were no more triple-digit visits from Ding in the concluding session, with some solid play sufficing, including a break of 68 in the 15th and final frame, to seal the triumph. "I played well in the first session when Zhou was a bit nervous," he told the BBC.

"It was hard for him because he has no experience of playing at the Crucible. But he came back and he will be a lot better next year."

Ding next faces another fellow countryman, Liang Wenbo, after the 30-year-old world No 13 battled past England's Stuart Carrington 10-7.

Carrington, 26, had raced into a 5-2 lead, scoring three centuries. However, Liang fought back to prevail in a scrappy encounter.

Meanwhile, Ronnie O'Sullivan attempted to draw a line under his row with the sport's administrators. Following his win over Gary Wilson on Sunday, five-time world champion O'Sullivan slammed World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn over a disciplinary letter he received for criticizing a referee and swearing at a photographer during his Masters triumph in January.

Snooker's biggest draw, O'Sullivan said he was done with being "bullied" and "intimidated" by officials.

The Englishman's comments, amid familiar threats to retire from the sport, have overshadowed the opening stages of the World Championship. But, as if conscious the situation was getting out of hand, the 41-year-old on Tuesday issued a statement which read: "There has been some speculation and commentary around the answers I gave when questioned by the media on Sunday.

"Any outstanding issues with the snooker authorities will be addressed by my legal team following the conclusion of this great event, when I hope a sensible resolution can be reached."

Englishman O'Sullivan, nicknamed The Rocket, added: "I will not be making any further comment about this during the World Championship. I request the media respect this position in all further interviews. "I wish to focus all my energies on performing to the very best of my ability for the fans in my quest for a sixth world title."

Earlier, four-time world champion John Higgins, speaking after his 10-6 first-round victory over Martin Gould, sympathized with O'Sullivan. "He has a lot on his shoulders in this sport because he is the biggest name - along with Ding, who is the biggest name in the Far East," said Higgins.

"The game would be a lot poorer without him."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 04/20/2017 page23)