China’s Ding Junhui swept into the second round of snooker’s World Championship completing a one-sided 10-2 win over Scotland’s Jamie Burnett.
Leading 8-1 overnight, the 24-year-old Sheffield-based player gave his opponent no chance of hitting back as he coasted into the second round. Ding had two centuries in the match and completed his success with a break of 71.
“It feels all right, I’m playing quite well,” said the Chinese cueist. “I’m just concentrating on my game and trying to play my best.”
Ranked fourth in the world after his win in the Masters, Ding was knocked out in the first round on his World Championship debut in 2007, and has reached round two in the three subsequent years. He knows his second-round match this year will be not be easy.
“Everybody tries hard here so it will be quite a difficult match to get through,” he said. “Hopefully I can win this [one day]. It feels good here. I get support from the Chinese students here and from the Sheffield supporters.
Williams cruises into second round
Meanwhile, Welshman Mark Williams is hell bent on landing a third title after setting up a second-round meeting with Jamie Cope after seeing off fellow Welshman Ryan Day 10-5.
Williams, champion in 2000 and 2003, now stands second in the world rankings just three years after falling out of the top 16.
“I’m quietly confident, I’m playing all right, I’m scoring all right, and my all-round game is good,” said Williams, whose second round rival scored a 10-7 victory over Crucible debutant Andrew Pagett. “All I ever say is that I’m going to be tough to beat and a handful for anyone really. I’m playing nowhere near where I was in 2003, and don’t think I’ll ever play that well again. That’s probably my peak.”
But Williams also said he believes three-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan may be the man to beat — as long as he turns up and can find some form.
“No-one knows if he’s going to turn up, do they? He’s in, he’s out, he’s retired, he’s out of retirement. No-one knows what’s going through his head. If he turns up and gives it 100 percent, for me he’s the one to beat.”
Meanwhile, former champion Shaun Murphy stormed into the second round with a 10-1 victory over Marcus Campbell while 2008 runner-up Ali Carter, saw off Dave Harold 10-3.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2011.
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