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World Championship 2019: Ding Junhui turns match around to lead Judd Trump


Ding Junhui fought back from 5-1 down to lead 9-7
Betfred World Snooker Championship
Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 20 April-6 May
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, Red Button, iPlayer, Connected TV, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app.

Ding Junhui turned the match around to lead Judd Trump 9-7 in the second round of the World Championship in Sheffield.

China’s Ding had fallen 5-1 behind against Englishman Trump on Saturday but took the last two frames of the opening session to stay in touch.

He then made breaks of 81, 55 and 60 to establish a two-frame lead going into Monday evening’s final session.

Kyren Wilson closed the gap on Barry Hawkins to trail9-7 after the second session of their second-round tie.

Former finalist Hawkins had opened up a 6-2 lead after a blistering opening session in which he compiled four centuries, but fellow Englishman Wilson responded in style with runs of 95, 68, 104 and 131 to trail by two frames.

Elsewhere, China’s Zhou Yuelong leads 9-7 against two-time finalist and fellow qualifier Ali Carter from England.

Zhou made two centuries in the opening session and although Carter went ahead in the match for the first time at 7-6, his opponent made breaks of 65 and 66 en route to claiming three frames in a row.

Both matches will conclude on Monday afternoon.

‘Would you believe it?’ Hawkins misses easy black as he closes on 147

Former Crucible champions Stuart Bingham and John Higgins are tied at 8-8 after the second session of their match.

Both players were in fine form, with 2015 winner Bingham compiling two centuries and a break of 70, while three-time winner Higgins responded with runs of 79 and 74.

‘Trump missed a trick’

The tie between former finalists Trump and Ding was the pick of the second round, but both players are yet to display their best snooker and a century is yet to be made in the 16 frames played.

The pair have seen world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan and number two Mark Selby make shock exits from their half of the draw, potentially giving the victor an easier route to the final.

But from the showing in the second session, Trump will be the more concerned, having lost eight of the last 10 frames and looking edgy when in among the reds.

“Judd has paid the price for not putting his opponent to bed in the first session,” six-time world champion Steve Davis said on BBC Two. “When you let someone like Ding off the hook, it may linger at the back of your mind that you have missed a trick.

“The expectation may be weighing heavy on both players after Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Mark Williams all went out.”

Ken Doherty, the 1997 champion, added: “Both players are struggling but Ding has done what he has to do. That is a great result without playing his best.

“Judd should have been 7-1 up going into today and has really panicked. It has thrown him completely off his game.”

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