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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Follow ALL the action from the International Championship with our live blog
More action on Monday
After a thrilling week in China many of the world's top players are back in the UK for the Champion of Champions - which starts on Monday.
A total of £440,000 of prize money is on offer with defending champion Mark Allen the first to play - the likes of Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O'Sullivan are all scheduled to play as well.
Chris Wakelin will NOT be at the tournament as he failed to qualify after losing in Nanjing, Ding Junhui will be in action on Wednesday after a couple of days of well earned rest.
SunSport will be blogging all the action throughout the week, of course.
That's all from us for the International Championship and what a week it's been. Here's all the information for the Champion of Champions.
Stats
Here's how the players performed when at the table, with the barely anything to separate the two players:
Frame-by-frame
Here's how the match unfolded - with neither player managing to score a century:
More from Ding
Ding added: “I’ve played so well in every match. Chris applied a lot of pressure in this game, especially at 4-1.
"I put too much pressure on myself at the beginning. That was the perfect start for him, but he started missing and there were some key frames to get 5-4 ahead. The second session was totally different.
“Over the past five years, there were good and bad moments. Sometimes it has been early exits and there have been a few semi-finals and quarter-finals.
"Reflecting on my career, it looks like I’ve either been eliminated early or gone almost all the way."
'It was great to see them'
That sweet moment between Ding and his daughter was a rare bit of insight for snooker fans - he has been one of the most unflappable players at the table over the last two decades.
At the end of the match, he said: "I didn’t know my family were going to be at the trophy presentation, it was great to see them.
"My kids hadn’t seen me win anything live before."
'Class is permanent'
World no 3 Mark Allen was full of praise for Ding and his brilliant win on home soil.
The Pistol wrote on social media: "Class to see Ding back in the winners enclosure. Form is temporary, class is permanent they say.
"5 years is far too long. Very well done."
Ding on top
Ding, who does not show much emotion at the table when he plays, shared a sweet moment of celebration with his daughter as he waited for his trophy.
Eurosport commentator Phil Studd summed it up nicely with his comments as the match came to an end: "The five-year wait is over.
"Ding Junhui proves he's still a champion in front of his adoring fans. Snooker's Chinese icon lands the coveted championship for a second time.
"He's waited five years for this. Too long for a player of his class. Ding is back where he belongs."
'It feels incredibly normal'
As well as earning his highest share of prize money, Wakelin's brilliant run in Nanjinh also puts him into the top 16 in the world for the first time in his career
The Rugby potter, who is expecting a baby with his partner, feels like he now belongs at the business end of these major tournaments.
He added: "As much as it does sometimes feel like a dream world being in the later stages of these tournaments, it also feels incredibly normal as well, like I belong there and one day I am capable of coming back and lifting this sort of title."
'Really proud'
Chris Wakelin may have lost the final but he has had one of the most incredible weeks of his career after taking home the biggest prize money since turning pro.
Speaking after the defeat, Wakelin told the WST: "I got off to a great start, then losing six frames on the trot was the difference between winning and losing today.
"But I managed to get myself back into the match and I was really proud with how I handled myself.
"Only a couple of years ago that kind of situation would have scared the life out of me.
"To be out there and feel like I still could have won despite how well Ding played, I felt like I was a credit to myself today."
Huge roar
The fans inside the South New City National Fitness Centre in Nanjing let out a giant roar after Chris Wakelin conceded the final frame - having failed to force Ding into an error - to hand the Chinese superstar the trophy.
It had been a long wait for a bit of silverware for Ding, who has lost three finals and two semi-finals since last lifting a trophy in 2019.
Result - Ding 10-7 Wakelin
So it is Ding Junhui who takes home £175,000 for winning the International Championship.
But Warwickshire's Chris Wakelin has still picked up a cool £75,000 for his runner-up spot.
Both men shake hands after what has turned out to be an epic final in Nanjing.
Ding BEATS Wakelin 10-7
Ding Junhui has won his first ranking title event in five years after a stunning victory over Chris Wakelin in the International Championship in China.
Brit Wakelin started well and put Ding under pressure, before the home favourite went on to dominate in the evening session.
Credit: Getty Latest score - Ding 9-7 Wakelin
Ding Junhui is now just ONE frame away from winning his first ranking title in five years!
Ding misses after a 72 break but Wakelin can't make him pay.
We head into the 17th - and could be final - frame of the match.
Latest score – Ding 8-7 Wakelin
And Wakelin has stole the frame here after Ding can only record 29.
Wakelin back to one frame behind now in what has been a thrilling evening session.
Very much game on!
Latest score - Ding 8-6 Wakelin
Home favourite Ding has come firing out of the blocks there to go back to two frames ahead.
Ding ends on 106 for the highest total of the match so far.
Two frames away from victory...but Wakelin is still very much in this one.
Break - Ding 7-6 Wakelin
The players are now having a 15 minute break, and that can't come soon enough for Ding.
He has put on just three points in the last three frames as Wakelin has mounted a stunning fightback.
Latest score - Ding 7-6 Wakelin
But wait just there...Wakelin has stormed to another frame to close the gap to just one!
Wakelein ends on 93 - the most amount of points in a frame so far as we get closer and closer to the first century of the game.
This is turning into an absolute thriller for the final frames.
Remember, it is the first to 10 who wins.
Latest score - Ding 7-5 Wakelin
But Warwickshire's Chris Wakelin has stopped Ding Junhui's run of successive frames at six to reduce the deficit here.
And in the process ending on 82 with no reply from Ding in frame 12.
Is this game on?
Credit: Getty Latest score - Ding 7-4 Wakelin
And that is Ding's sixth frame in a row!
Just like in his semi-final yesterday, Ding has recovered from a slow start to dominate proceedings.
Ding ends on 92 as we still await our first century of the game.
Latest score - Ding 6-4 Wakelin
Ding pulling away now to pick up his FIFTH frame on the bounce.
Another close one though as Ding finishes on 66.
How can Wakelin arrest the slump here?
Back on the table - Ding 5-4 Wakelin
And we're back underway for the evening session.
Just the one frame in it between Chris Wakelin and Ding Junhui.
We'll be bringing you all the updates right here on SunSport.
Final countdown
Just under 15 minutes to go and we'll be back live frame-by-frame at the International Championship final.
Ding taking a narrow 5-4 lead into the evening session.
Credit: Getty One hour to go
We'll be back live with frame-by-frame from what has been a nail-biting final at 11.30am GMT.
Remember, the players are tied 1-1 from their previous two meetings, with Chris Wakelin winning the last one at the Wuhan Open earlier this year.
Ding leading Wakelin 5-4
It has been a close one so far at the International Championship final in Nanjing.
Wakelin got off to a stunning start to race into a 4-1 lead after five frame.
But it's been all Ding since, winning the last FOUR frames.
Interval time
The opening session has been incredibly close, with Ding shading it 5-4.
The players now go for their interval and will be back on the table at 11.30am GMT.
We'll be bringing you all of the frame-by-frame updates right here on SunSport.
Credit: Getty
