Ding suffers third successive first-round exit at Masters

Shaun Murphy (left) and Ding Junhui during the 2014 Dafabet Masters at Alexandra Palace, London.  [Photo/icpress.cn]

LONDON - Fourth seed Ding Junhui wasted a 4- 2 lead to fall 6-4 against former world champion Shaun Murphy at the first round of snooker Masters at the Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.

The Chinese star has never won a match after becoming the first champion from Asia in 2011 by beating Hong Kong's Marco Fu in the finals.

He lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-4 in 2012 and 6-5 to Neil Robertson last year, both in the first round.

Ding led 2-0 and 4-2 in a match that was delayed by a power cut for 80 minutes.

"I did not play after the UK Championship in December. If you don't play for some time, you cannot keep good form," said the 26- year-old Ding.

"I have a lot of chances, but I wasted them all," he said.