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Ding wins first ranking title in five years

BBC
·1-min read
Ding Junhui and Chris Wakelin shake hands before the final of the International Championship
Ding Junhui (left) has won 15 ranking titles, including the International Championship title in 2013 [Getty Images]

China's Ding Junhui beat Englishman Chris Wakelin in the final of the International Championship to claim his first ranking title in five years.

The vocal home crowd roared on Ding as he came from behind to win 10-7 in Janjing, China.

It was his first title since winning a third UK Championship crown in 2019 and followed defeats in his past three finals.

Wakelin opened up a 4-1 lead courtesy of breaks of 63, 92, 85 and 64, but Ding won the next six frames, the last of those after Wakelin missed a red along the cushion when he had a chance to clear up.

Wakelin, whose only previous ranking title came in the Shoot Out in 2023, made an 85 and 82 to cut the deficit to 7-6 before Ding responded with a 98.

Wakelin took a scrappy 15th frame but Ding won the next three to wrap up victory.