Ding looks to bounce back at home

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-31 09:28

China's snooker ace Ding Junhui hopes to capitalize on home support in the Main Tour World Snooker China Open this week to revive his once glittering career after failing to win a title for more than two years.

Ding Junhui prepares for the China Open in Beijing. [China Daily]

"I hope I can play better this time. I will try my best (to win)," said the 22-year-old.

The home hero has failed to deliver for home fans since he won the inaugural China Open in 2005.

After suffering a first-round knockout in 2007 followed by a second-round elimination last year, he is now trying to shrug off those disappointments and stay focused on the task at hand.

"I will not think of the past results or who I will face next round. I will play my game and try to have a good result," said Ding, who starts his first round against a qualifier today.

In 2005, Ding landed a historic win by trumping Stephen Hendry 9-5 in the final.

The victory made Ding the first-ever Chinese player to win a Main Tour event and the second youngest winner in snooker history, just nine days older than Ronnie O'Sullivan when he won the 1993 UK Championship.

Once again, this year's tournament has attracted all of the world's top 16 snooker players including established elites, world No 1 O'Sullivan, world No 2 and defending champion Stephen Maguire, "King" Stephen Hendry, world No 3 Shaun Murphy and 2007 champion Graeme Dott.

According to the draw, Ding, currently world No 11, will face arch-rival O'Sullivan in the second round in what is considered the biggest obstacle to the top of the podium.

Ding said he's not afraid of any opponent because the top-ranked players are almost on the same level.

"The top level players are very close in the sport. It's normal to win or lose against them. In snooker, even if you play very well, you might still lose because it's too close," said Ding.

Ding's success over the past years brings the sport's popularity to new heights.

His cool, attacking play has captured the imagination of a sports-crazed nation.

The Jiangsu-born wunderkind won three titles - the China Open and the UK Championships in 2005 and the Northern Ireland Trophy in 2006 - and is the only player other than John Higgins to do so before his 20th birthday.

In the 2007-08 season, Ding again grabbed the country's attention when he beat three former top-ranked players - O'Sullivan, Hendry and Steve Davis - at the Snooker Premier League in England.

But since then, he has struggled with form and rarely had a real chance to beat any top-16 players.

Though snooker is not an Olympic sport in China, it is still hugely popular, with millions of people playing it in billiards clubs in every corner of the nation.

The China Open is helping expand the sport's presence and develop more professionals.