Ding sees off Pettman at Crucible

Ding Junhui made short work of wrapping up victory over Stuart Pettman as he breezed into the second round of the Betfred.com World Championship.

The 23-year-old Chinese player had threatened a whitewash against Preston's Pettman yesterday when he led 6-0.

Pettman got off the mark in the seventh frame but trailed 8-1 overnight, and Ding won the two frames he needed for a place in the last 16 quickly this morning, sealing a 10-1 win.

UK Championship winner Ding began with an 88 break today and then won a scrappy 11th frame to seal his win.

There was no entrance music for the players, with Ding having requested a more sober start as a mark of respect for the victims of the Chinese earthquake.

China has been observing a day of mourning for those killed in last week's quake. Official figures put the number of dead above 2,000.

Ding said: ‘Lots of people died. I heard the bad news a few days ago and I asked for no music.

‘It was in the north of China and very sad. I saw pictures on the internet.’

Yesterday Ding made breaks of 77, 88, 120 and 95, with Pettman gifting him many openings.

Pettman said: ‘I was absolutely shocking throughout the whole game. It's so disappointing to get here and put in a performance like that.

‘You can't give Ding chances. He's far too good a player. He won't let you off.’

This was Pettman's third visit to the Crucible, having been beaten 10-2 by Mark Williams in 2003 and by the same margin by Stephen Hendry in 2004.

The 35-year-old said: ‘I've had an absolute nightmare when I've been here every time.

As Pettman made his exit, Ding admitted he was surprised by how straightforward the match proved to be.

Ding said: ‘It was more easy than I thought it would be.

‘I don't know what happened to him. He was leaving many balls and leaving me easy ones.’

As for today's final two frames, Ding said: ‘He just looked like he gave up. I'm just pleased to win the first round.’

Ding is expected to meet 2005 champion Shaun Murphy in the second round. Murphy begins his opening-round clash with Gerard Greene today.

Ding said: ‘I'm looking forward to the second round and hope I can play better than this match.

‘It will be very hard in the second round.

‘Murphy is a good player in attack and safety. Everything is good. He's not going to leave me easy ones.

‘He's beaten me many times so he'll have a lot of confidence if he plays me.’

Ding lives in Sheffield for much of the year, and feels at home in the city and at the Crucible.

He said: ‘It seems more easy.’

On the other table this morning, Mark Davis developed his overnight 5-4 lead against Ryan Day into a 7-6 advantage, despite Day winning the opening two frames.