Historic title win for Ding
Ding Junhui made snooker history when defeating John Higgins 10-8 to win the Pukka Pies UK Snooker Championship for the second time at the Telford International Centre.
The Chinese star became the most successful Asian player in winning his fourth ranking event and followed in the footsteps of Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, Doug Mountjoy, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Higgins in securing the UK title for the second time.
He was made to work hard but sealed the £100,000 first prize in frame 18 with a run of 75 after Higgins broke down on 27.
The first eight frames were shared during a marathon opening session which lasted three-and-a-quarter hours.
Higgins showed his resilience in coming from a frame in arrears on four occasions and play was of a high standard, with Ding enjoying runs of 81, 69 and 63 while Higgins responded with two breaks of 67 and an 80.
The opening frame of the evening was a scrappy affair. Ding looked to have handed current world champion Higgins a good opportunity after missing a red with the rest when leading 46-21. But Higgins tossed away the chance when he failed to convert a straight black off its spot.
Higgins responded with a run of 42 in the next to draw level but Ding's half-century put him 6-5 ahead. Higgins, though, refused to allow the Chinese player to pull away thanks to a run of 91 in the final frame before the interval - the best break to date of the final.
Higgins went in front for the first time with the aid of a 42 in frame 13 but it became 7-7 when Ding compiled a 74.
It looked as if Higgins would win the 15th with the aid of a fluked final red but, when leading 58-42, he missed an easy final brown - and Ding cleared the remaining colours.
Higgins was also in early control of the next with a 49 but he fluffed a comfortable red and Ding cleared the colours to move within one frame of victory. He had to put his celebrations on ice as Higgins responded with a 115 clearance - the first century of the match - but crossed the finishing line in the next.
