Ding suffers early exit

Judd Trump through after Andrew Higginson whitewash

Ding Junhui crashed out of the Haikou World Open in sensational circumstances as he was thrashed 5-1 by wildcard Jin Long.

Jin, the 30-year-old from Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, took full advantage of a below-par Ding, growing in confidence as the match progressed.

Jin won some close frames in the early stages and reached the interval with a 3-1 lead. A break of 76 gave him the fifth frame and two visits in the sixth secured him a famous victory over the player who had won the Welsh Open just nine days earlier.

"I made some mistakes but had a little more luck and Ding didn't grab his chances," said Jin. "He was feeling the pressure as I led at the interval and I tried to take it easy and try my best. Ding is a great player and hard to beat so I am very happy indeed with the victory." - http://www1.skysports.com/

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Catalano Wins Connie Gough Again

WORLD number one Maria Catalano ended a marathon 13-hour day on the women's snooker circuit as champion of her "special tournament" for the fourth time.

Five days after turning 30, Catalano swept past Hong Kong star Jaique Ip Wan In to claim the Connie Gough Memorial trophy at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon. Her 3-0 victory avenged a last-16 defeat in last month's Southern Classic.

It was her third title this season on the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association tour and an eighth in total. But it's the Connie Gough, which she also won three times between 2006 and 2008, that she holds dear to her heart.

There was no easy return to the circuit for seven-time world champion Reanne Evans, who had been laid low with pleurisy. The Connie Gough champion for the last three years came up against Catalano in the preliminary round and lost 3-2. Catalano, from Dudley, West Midlands, said: "It's always good to play Reanne. We've had some good matches over the years.

Ip Wan In, also a beaten finalist at the Southern Classic, accounted for world number eight Katie Henrick 3-2 in the last-four. In the second semi, Catalano overcame Ip Wan In's compatriot Ng On Yee 3-0. Ng had beaten Southern Classic champion Emma Bonney 3-0 in the last-16. Evans, who had slipped to joint third in the rankings with pregnant Vicky Carter, did return to winning ways in the Plate.

The 26-year-old from Dudley, West Midlands, compiled a 91 break against the home club's Jodie Symes and rounded off eight winning frames with a 2-0 victory over Tina Owen-Sevilton (Somerset) in the final. Jan Hughes (St Neots, Cambs) picked up her first Seniors (40+) trophy of the season, beating Gaye Jones (Melksham, Wilts) in the final. And Hampshire's Suzie Opacic defeated Symes to collect the Shield (under-40) trophy. The sixth and final leg of the 2011/12 WLBSA tour is the Greene King World Championships in Bury St Edmunds in April. - http://www.worldsnooker.com/

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Hendry Earns China Spot

Stephen Hendry thrashed Yu Delu 5-1 in the final qualifying round of the China Open to book his place in the televised stages of the event next month.

The seven-time World Champion easily saw off his Chinese opponent with a top break of 54.

Marcus Campbell beat Ken Doherty 5-2 with a top run of 70 while Peter Ebdon finished with a 101 in a 5-0 whitewash of Liang Wenbo.

Li Yan was one of four Chinese players to lose in the final qualifying round as he let slip a 4-2 lead against Fergal O'Brien and lost 5-4.

Hong Kong's Marco Fu fell 5-1 to Jamie Jones, who knocked in breaks of 95, 102, 51 and 50.

The final stages of the event run from March 26 to April 1 in Beijing. - http://www.worldsnooker.com/

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Doherty Fight Floors White

Ken Doherty came from 4-1 down to beat Michael White 5-4 and reach the final qualifying round of the China Open.

Last November, Doherty recovered a 4-0 deficit to beat Sam Craigie 5-4 in the German Masters qualifiers, and once again the Irishman showed his capacity to fight back from unpromising positions.

Welshman White knocked in breaks of 86 and 57 in building a 4-1 lead, but 1997 World Champion Doherty got back to 4-4 with a top run of 84 then took the decider 60-0.

Jimmy White beat Liam Highfield 5-3 thanks to breaks of 97 and 67 in the last two frames, while David Grace came from 4-2 down to beat Matthew Selt 5-4, making a superb 61 clearance to win the last frame on the black.

China's Li Yan beat Mike Dunn 5-4, winning the decider 68-31, while Michael Holt thrashed Peter Lines 5-1 with a high score of 98.

Today's winners need to get through one more round on Friday to earn a seat on the flight to Beijing at the end of March. - http://www.worldsnooker.com/

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Brecel Wins With Brilliant Finish

Belgian teenager Luca Brecel finished with two superb breaks to beat Andrew Pagett 5-4 as the China Open qualifiers got underway in Sheffield.

The 16-year-old who is making his debut on the pro tour this season needs three more wins to get to the final stages in Beijing next month.

Brecel went 3-1 up with a top break of 52 before Welshman Pagett won the next three frames with a top run of 84 to lead 4-3. But Brecel made an 81 to force the decider then fired in a tremendous 115 to set up a second round match with Andy Hicks.

Irishman David Morris also made a century in the last frame, his 119 enough to beat Paul Davison 5-4. He now plays Peter Lines.

Yorkshireman David Grace knocked in breaks of 52, 60, 64, 89 and 66 to beat Daniel Wells 5-1, while Andrew Norman saw off Stuart Carrington 5-3 with top runs of 97 and 112.

Adam Wicheard failed to build on his fine run to the venue stage of the 888真人 Welsh Open as he lost 5-3 to Sam Craigie. - http://www.worldsnooker.com/

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ROCKET STRUCK DOWN BY ILLNESS

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been forced to withdraw from next week's Haikou World Open because of glandular fever.

The 'Rocket' has been back to his best in recent weeks, winning the German Masters and only defeat to world number one Mark Selby denied him a place in the Welsh Open final. But, having played in those tournaments against his doctor's advice, fatigue has caught up with the three-time world champion.

The 36-year-old said: "I am very sorry. Despite my illness I have been competing well in recent weeks and was greatly looking forward to taking part in the World Open and meeting my fans in China.

"However, I have to listen to my body sometimes and I have decided that I will be in better shape for the climax of the season and the World Championships if I listen to my doctor and spend the next few weeks resting. "I hope I can make it to Ireland and China in March and look forward to seeing you all soon". O'Sullivan fell one place to 14th in the latest rankings but has still avoided the World Championship qualifiers after his efforts in Newport kept him in the top-16. - http://www.sportinglife.com/

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Ding rules in Wales

Chinese star defeats Selby to land Newport title

Ding Junhui landed his first ranking title of the season with a 9-6 victory over Mark Selby in the final of the 888 Welsh Open in Newport.

The 24-year-old from China put a largely disappointing campaign behind him in impressive fashion to pocket the £30,000 first prize on Sunday night.Ding, a World Championship semi-finalist last season, trailed 2-1 early on but hit back to see off 'The Jester from Leicester'.He said afterwards: "Mark missed a chance to go 3-1 up but he's very good and I'm very happy to win."The Chinese player maintained the momentum after the break, with a knock of 130 moving him to within a frame of victory at 8-5.


Selby was not finished though, with a total clearance of 145 giving him the highest break of the tournament - and a £1,000 prize to accompany it. The final frame was a cagey affair but Ding prevailed to land the fifth ranking title of his career.Selby told the post-match interviews, televised on British Eurosport: "I missed too many balls. I had my chances but every credit to Ding - he deserves it."I probably let him off the hook in the first session, I should have been in front but was 5-3 behind."But I was one ball away from going out in the first round (to Sam Baird), so every game after that is a bonus. I'm delighted to get to the final."On the consolation of the highest break, the 28-year-old added: "I was over the moon and was told it was £1,000 - I was expecting it to be about £10,000!" - http://www1.skysports.com/

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