International Championship snooker 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Ding BEATS Chris Wakelin in thrilling final to end five-year wait
DING JUNHUI ended Chris Wakelin's fairy tale run in Nanjing to end a FIVE-YEAR wait for a ranking title.
Warwickshire's Wakelin came flying out the blocks to set up a 4-1 lead after five frames, but Ding then reeled off six straight frames to take control of the match.
Wakelin was not finished though, mounting a spirited comeback to win three of the next four and keep the fight alive.
Ding's class showed through as he kept his composure to win the final two frames and take home the £175,000 - while Wakelin took home a career-high £75k.
- Explainer: Full results and prize money
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Wakelin leads
Brit Chris Wakelin is leading China's Xiao Guondong 5-3 with what has been a tense International Championship semi-final now in the first interval of the day.
Credit: Getty Wakelin 5-3 Xiao
Huge frame there for Wakelin and he has headed into the first interval of the day with two frame lead!
A big steal there and the Warwickshire man takes it.
There has been no centuries yet in the match in what has been a cagey affair so far, which is suiting Wakelin.
Wakelin 4-2 Xiao
Chris Wakelin has extended his lead and given himself some breathing room.
The semi-finals will be played over two sessions, with each match as a best-of-17 frames.
Wakelin 3-2 Xiao
And Warwickshire star Chris Wakelin has now taken the lead in this tense semi-final at the International Championship in China.
Wakelin is celebrating his 11th year as a pro, and is in the form of this life.
Wakelin 2-2 Xiao
Xiao Guondong had stormed into a 2-1 lead after a couple of fine shots in the third frame, but Chris Wakelin is right back in this one now.
Still absolutely nothing between the pair as we enter the fifth frame.
Wakelin headed into the semi-final 21st in the world, while Xiao is 18th.
Wakelin 1-1 Xiao
It's neck and neck here in the International Championship snooker semi-final as we head into the third frame.
Wakelin reached the semi-final after an eventful win over John Higgins yesterday.
We'll be bringing you all of the updates right here on SunSport.
20-minute countdown
Both semi-finals are just minutes from getting underway here in Tianjin, China.
Chris Wakelin will be desparate to ensure the finall isn't an all-Chinese affair as he faces Xiao Guondong.
Xu Si vs Ding Junhui in the other.
Fuming Higgins
John Higgins was left fuming during his 6-5 quarter-final defeat to Chris Wakelin.
With the match finely-poised at 5-5, the referee pulled both men away from the table to come back for an evening session.
But the Scottish snooker hero was more than a little miffed with the tournament organisers' decision.
The Scot had just seen his advantage eroded as the Englishman forced a deciding frame at 5-5.
But there was a visible show of frustration when he learned that he would have to come back later on to finish the job.
Eurosport commentator Philip Studd: “Higgins has just been told that’s it, and you saw his reaction, he wasn’t happy. Goodness me. You’ve got to assume that’s the end of proceedings."
Credit: Eurosport Quarter-final results
All four of the quarter-final match-ups on Thursday were incredibly close encounters, with two of them separated by just one frame.
- Xiao Guondong 6-4 Jackson Page
- Ding Junhui 6-4 Kyren Wilson
- Xu Si 6-5 Gary Wilson
- Chris Wakelin 6-5 John Higgins
What time do the semis start?
Both Wakelin vs Xiao and Si vs Ding will get going later this morning at 6.30am.
You can watch all the action unfold on Eurosport.
The matches are available for live streaming on the Discovery+ app, which you can download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Good evening!
Welcome to our live coverage of the International Championship snooker semi-finals!
It's been an entertaining tournament so far but big favourites Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump were knocked out in the early stages.
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins were then dumped out in the quarter-finals.
The semis see Chris Wakelin come up against Xiao Guondong and Xu Si face Ding Junhui.
Follow along throughout the night as we bring you all the build-up for the morning clashes.