Ding drubs Doherty in China Open
Saturday, 2 April 2005 16:12Dubliner Ken Doherty crashed out of the China Open today after suffering a 6-0 defeat to local hero Ding Jun Hui.
Ding, who turned 18 on Friday, showed no signs of nerves in his first major semi-final as he stormed through to a meeting with Stephen Hendry, arguably the game's greatest-ever player.
After winning a scrappy opener, Ding rode his luck by claiming two frames on the black to take a 3-0 lead.
Doherty, who beat Paul Hunter 5-1 in the quarter-finals, went in off the black to gift him the second and suffered two more unlucky in-offs in the third before Ding's 56 clearance put the teenager further ahead.
The rest of the match turned into a procession as Ding fired in breaks of 91, 126 and 117 to complete the whitewash.
"I could have been 3-1 up at the interval but instead I was 4-0 down and it was the early frames that cost me," said Doherty, the world number seven, 17 years Ding's senior.
"After going 3-0 down he played superbly and there was nothing I could do. He was excellent.
"I was a little surprised but he's a really good player, a great talent. After beating Paul Hunter I had big aspirations but they evaporated out there."
Ding had originally entered the tournament at the qualifying stage in Prestatyn but withdrew at the request of the Chinese snooker authorities, who wanted to ensure his participation in the final stages.
He beat top 16 stars Peter Ebdon and Marco Fu to reach the semi-finals before his stunning success over Doherty, which follows his 6-1 thrashing of the Dubliner at February's Wembley Masters.
"At the start of the tournament I'd never have thought I'd be playing Hendry in the final," Ding said.
"He will be a very difficult opponent but I'll be trying my best to take my chances."
RESULT:
K Doherty 0-6 D Junhui
32-75, 52-59, 61-56 (61,56), 4-95 (91), 0-126 (126) 15-117 (117)
