Ding's unbeaten run ended by Walden
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 5, 2013
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Ding Junhui's hopes of winning a fourth consecutive ranking title came to an end. |
Ding Junhui's bid for a fourth straight ranking title was ended with a 6-4 loss to Ricky Walden at the UK Championship.
Ding had arrived in York having won the Shanghai Masters, Indian Open and the International Championship in China and was trying to become the first player since Stephen Hendry in 1990 to win four ranking titles in a row.
But world number 12 Walden marked his intentions early on and led 3- 1 at the interval with top breaks of 59 and 63. Ding drew level with two big breaks of 76 and 119 but Walden took a crucial seventh frame, with an excellent final black along the baulk cushion and into the yellow pocket.
He moved 5-3 clear before Ding pulled one back with a 135 and the next lasted more than 50 minutes, coming down to a battle on the pink.
Walden was resigned to a final-frame shootout after leaving the ball over a pocket, but Ding amazingly missed the chance and left an equally straightforward one which Walden took.
Elsewhere, defending champion Mark Selby beat Graeme Dott 6-2 to make the quarter-finals. And Mark Allen claimed a fine 6-4 over Judd Trump.
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