Chinese snooker player Ding Junhui during Round One of the 2016 Dafabet Masters in London against World Snooker Champion Stuart Bingham. (Photo : Getty Images)
Former world no. 1 player Ding Junhui of China was trounced by reigning World Snooker Champion Stuart Bingham of England, 4-6, during the first round of the 2016 Dafabet Snooker Masters held at the Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday.
The 28-yer-old Ding, who was visibly disappointed and fighting back tears after the match, was eliminated in the first round for the fifth consecutive year since he became the champion of the said event back in 2011.
In contrast, current world no. 2 Bingham "has never won a match in his career at the Masters", as per Xinhuanet. The 39-year-old Englishman had been a professional snooker player for 21 years now.
"I played better than the last match," the current world no. 9 said. "I don't know what is wrong with me."
Meanwhile, the 2015 World Snooker Championship winner told reporters during a post-match interview that he was "very scrappy" during the contest and had "luckily managed to get through to the quarterfinals", as reported by Daily Mail Online.
"I am over the moon to get through," Bingham said.
Ding took the opening frame before Bingham fought back and claimed the next three for a 3-1 lead. The Chinese sensation was able to fight back and level the match at 3-3 after winning two straight frames.
Ball-run went ahead again in the seventh frame, 80-5, only to find himself tied with Ding once more, 4-4, after the latter broke 71 in the eighth.
Bingham won the next one and then edged out Ding in the 10th frame to advance in the quarterfinals of the said tournament. The Basildon, Essex native will face either Scotland's John Higgins or China's Liang Wenbo who are squaring off in another round one matchup.
