Ding Junhui holds a 5-3 lead over Stephen Maguire in the final of the UK Championship in York as they head into the evening session.
The Chinese will be pleased to be ahead but it could have been even better for him after he took a 4-0 lead including breaks of 105 and 128.
The pre-match favourite was in complete control but Maguire clearly gathered his thoughts effectively at the interval as he returned in impressive fashion, reeling off the next three frames.
The Scot wasn’t at the free-flowing best he demonstrated in his 6-0 semi-final win over Mark Allen, but was getting over the line and made an impressive 67 in the sixth frame after Ding had been in.
Ding Junhui extends his lead to 3-0 with his seventh century of the tournament ?
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It looked like somehow Maguire was going to come away from the session level, but missed a straightforward blue in the eighth frame with Ding making 66 to regain a two-frame advantage.
Both men will be reasonably satisfied as they head into the second session given that things could have been a lot worse for the Maverick.
‘It could easily have been 7-1, I don’t think Stephen’s played well to get back to 5-3, I think Stephen’s hung in there and pinched a few frames,’ said Ronnie O’Sullivan.
‘Ding’s gone a bit off the boil, hasn’t scored as well as he did in the first four.
‘It looked like it was going to go 4-4, he under-hits the blue which is unforgivable at this level of the game and Ding nicks the last frame to go 5-3.
‘On the balance of play you’ll have to say that’s the right result being in Ding’s favour, but I think Maguire’s had a miracle getting out of there 5-3, unbelievable.
‘Stephen’s always good when he’s got his back against the wall, he’s a tough match player, it’s never over with Maguire because he’s that kind of player.
‘I think Ding will be happy with 5-3, he knows his form’s good and has been all week, I think Maguire will be happy to just be in touch.’
The pair return at 7pm in a race to 10 frames.
MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan picks Ding Junhui to beat Stephen Maguire in UK Championship final
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