Bingham edges Ding to reach Welsh Open final
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 17, 2013
Stuart Bingham made brilliant breaks in the last two frames to beat defending champion Ding Junhui 6-5 in a thrilling semi-final at the BetVictor Welsh Open.
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Stuart Bingham made brilliant breaks in the last two frames to beat defending champion Ding Junhui 6-5 in a thrilling semi-final at the BetVictor Welsh Open. |
Ding held a 5-4 lead after having trailed for much of the match, but Bingham ruthlessly levelled the match at 5-5 before taking the final 11th frame in nerveless fashion.
In Sunday's showpiece, the world number 10 will face Stephen Maguire, who ousted world number 2 Judd Trump in the other semi-final.
A tense opening frame went the way of 36-year-old Bingham after he trapped Ding in a snooker on the last red. China's top player looked set to level after a 57 in frame two, but Bingham crafted a 64 clearance for 2-0. Runs of 48 and 56 gave Ding the third frame before a 74 from Bingham put him 3-1 up at the interval.
Ding came out after the break very focused, and wasted no time in reducing the deficit once more as he scored 88, with a break of 72, to again peg his opponent back.
The match's repetitive pattern continued as Bingham again restored his two-frame cushion with a hard-fought 84 in numerous instalments as Ding's 48 was rendered irrelevant.
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Defending champion Ding Junhui of China was beaten by Stuart Bingham of England 5-6 in the semifinals of the Welsh Open at Newport on Saturday. [CFP] |
China's top player Ding, who won his fifth ranking title here last year, took the next with a 67 after Bingham had missed a black off its spot on 26. The eighth lasted 33 minutes and went to Ding after Bingham over-cut the final green to a baulk corner.
Carrying the momentum, Ding fired in a run of 70 to lead for the first time at 5-4. But the 36-year-old from Basildon saved his best for the match's finale as he produced stunning breaks of 93 and 108 to close out a fine victory.
"I can't believe how well I held myself together in the end," said Bingham. "When I missed the black at 4-2 I thought it was going to cost me but in the end I got the job done."
