Ding Junhui became the first Asian player to reach the final of the world snooker championship when he beat Alan McManus 17-11 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. An estimated TV audience in China of more than 30m watched Ding, who was born near Shanghai, take the penultimate step in a journey to the world title that has been predicted for him for almost a decade.
A fine break-builder when on form, Ding can appear unemotional. But there is a great deal going on behind his impassive face, as was clear when he first came to wide attention in 2007 in the final of the Masters event in London.
On that occasion, Ding was reduced to tears as he was thrashed by Ronnie O’Sullivan and unfairly treated by some spectators, one of whom told him to “go back to China”. O’Sullivan, who predicted Ding would win multiple world titles, generously consoled his opponent.
Today and tomorrow, more than nine years later, Ding has the chance to fulfil his potential. As the best player in the championship this far, he deserves it. But although he has played far better than either player in the other semi-final, he will have to hold his nerve and keep his passion in check. Nevertheless, Ding is the man to beat.
Ding was ranked No 1 in the world just two years ago but has had a lean time of it lately, which meant that he had to qualify to play in the championship’s final stages. So, too, did McManus, who has had a lean time of it for almost a decade. Both players seemed liberated.
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McManus, at 45 the oldest player to reach the semi-finals for 31 years, seemed reborn. At his previous best, such as when he last made it to the semi-final stage in 1993, he was a cautious, rather dour player. This year at the Crucible he has played with freedom, taken chances and had his reward. McManus can be proud of his campaign and of his performance yesterday. But Ding, 29, was just too good.
In their first three sessions, Ding and McManus were fluent and enterprising. Yesterday, as the conclusion drew near, there was rather more caution as they shared the first two frames of the final session in over an hour. At that point, Ding broke free, taking on a series of difficult pots as he compiled his seventh century of the match. After one further frame, McManus conceded defeat and led the applause for Ding’s tremendous performance.
Ding and McManus produced a scintillating and record-breaking display of attacking snooker. Ding scored seven century breaks, a record for an individual in one match at the Crucible, and McManus scored three himself, contributing to an aggregate single-match record as well. It was a stark contrast with the other semi-final between Mark Selby and Marco Fu, which was painfully laborious.
Selby eventually gave himself the chance to add to Leicester’s sporting roll of honour this year, after grinding out a 17-15 victory.
The world No 1, who earlier in the week pledged to turn up to the Crucible in Leicester City kit if he reached the final, will begin his match against Ding at 2pm — just as the team he supports are about to kick-off their bid to win the Barclays Premier League title at Old Trafford.
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The semi-final against Fu included the longest frame in Crucible history, at 76 minutes 11 seconds, while the final frame also lasted more than an hour, as both players put on a tactical masterclass before the Englishman prevailed.
The 32-year-old, who won the title two years ago, admits he will have to play better if he is to overcome Ding, who will be competing in his first World final.
“For three sessions I was really poor and more or less hanging on to Marco’s coat-tails,” he said.
“When Marco was in, it looked like an art, and when I was in, it was more like a scribble. I need to play better than that.”