Ding Wins Masters Snooker Crown


China's Ding Junhui has beaten Hong Kong's Marco Fu 10-4 in the 2011 Masters final at Wembley Arena in London.

The previous two-time winner of the UK Championship never looked in difficulty throughout the match setting the tone with a masterly break of 120 in the opening frame of the match.

Additional breaks of 74, 66 and 60 helped him open up a 6-2 lead at the end of the afternoon conference.

But he didn't have it all his way in the evening as Fu battled back captivating the opening two frames to halve his arrears.

Then came the essential 11th frame of the match. After both players had scrapped around, Fu looked to have conserved the frame with just pink and black remaining on the table and Ding requiring one snooker.

But the 23-year-old from China played an astonishing shot sending the cue ball around the angles before nestling it behind the black.

Fu then failed to escape from the snooker, parting Ding to clear up to lead 7-4.

Ding didn't look back recording breaks of 94, 83 and 85 in the final three frames to take the title.

Snooker's first major all-Asian final is expected to have gained an audience of over 100 million worldwide.

Ding becomes only the third person from outside the UK and Ireland to win the important tournament.

Perrie Mans of South Africa won in 1979 and Canada's Cliff Thorburn achieved the achievement in 1986.
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