China Open Day 7

2014 China Open Champion Ding Junhui Image: World Snooker

Ding Junhui matched Stephen Hendry’s record of five ranking event wins in a season as he beat Neil Robertson 10-5 to clinch the China Open for a second time. Hendry’s record of five tournament wins had stood since the 1990/91 season but Ding’s victory in Beijing added to his titles at the Shanghai Masters, Indian Open, International Championship and German Masters matches the great Scot’s record. He also won the title for a second time after making such a name for himself by beating Hendry in the final nine years ago as he became the first wildcard player to clinch a major title in the sport, back in 2005.

The new provisional world number two’s key to success was a great first session. The Chinese won the first three with top runs of 87 and 61. Robertson pulled one back by winning the fourth but top breaks of 119 and 59 helped Ding to win the next three to go 6-1 up. Robertson stopped the rot with his first century of the tournament, a 102, which is his 93rd this campaign, but Ding finished on top by winning the ninth on the colours to finish the opening session 7-2 ahead.

Robertson won the opening frame of the evening session but after a long tactical battle, Ding claimed the tenth with a 104 century break. Robbo won the next on the colours but Ding went within a frame of victory by smashing in a 67 to go into the interval 9-4 up. A 57 prolonged the inevitable a little longer for Robertson but Ding finally secured the win, thanks to a 66 break in the 15th frame.

He takes home the trophy plus £85,000 in prize money and he’ll be high on confidence ahead of the World Championship which starts in less than two weeks in his home city of Sheffield.