Ding on course after brushing aside Allen
Source: Agencies |
April 4, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SNOOKER looked set for another huge television audience after local hero Ding Junhui reached the final of the China Open yesterday.
Ding's victory in the tournament in 2005 was watched by a TV audience of 110 million, according to Chinese state media, and the live broadcast of today's final against England's Ali Carter or Mark Williams of Wales could attract a similar number of viewers.
Ding, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday, beat Mark Allen of Northern Ireland 6-2 in the best of 11 frame semifinal at the Beijing University Students Gymnasium, sealing his victory with a break of 125.
A second UK championship title of his career at the end of last year marked a return to form for world No. 13 Ding, who before that had not won a ranking tournament since the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy.
Huge market
That was good news for international governing body World Snooker, which has been targeting growth in China's huge market to help the sport break out of its British heartland.
China now hosts two of the six ranking tournaments each season and world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan of England was beaten in the first round of the China Open by local wildcard Tian Pengfei earlier this week.
Ding's victory in the tournament in 2005 was watched by a TV audience of 110 million, according to Chinese state media, and the live broadcast of today's final against England's Ali Carter or Mark Williams of Wales could attract a similar number of viewers.
Ding, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday, beat Mark Allen of Northern Ireland 6-2 in the best of 11 frame semifinal at the Beijing University Students Gymnasium, sealing his victory with a break of 125.
A second UK championship title of his career at the end of last year marked a return to form for world No. 13 Ding, who before that had not won a ranking tournament since the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy.
Huge market
That was good news for international governing body World Snooker, which has been targeting growth in China's huge market to help the sport break out of its British heartland.
China now hosts two of the six ranking tournaments each season and world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan of England was beaten in the first round of the China Open by local wildcard Tian Pengfei earlier this week.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
