Hamilton hammered by new Chinese star

Chinese rising star Ding Junhui showed he is ready to become a major contender for snooker’s top prizes by cruising into the second round of the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

The 18-year-old booked a mouth-watering clash with Jimmy White as he completed a 9-3 crushing of Anthony Hamilton, rounding off his victory with a 95 break following earlier efforts of 61, 74, 84, 62, 83 and 65.

At last year’s event Ding lacked big-match experience when beaten 9-3 by Dominic Dale, but since then, while still an amateur, he has won the China Open to underline his massive potential.

Tipped by many as a future world champion, he certainly looked the part against Hamilton and was given a ringing endorsement by his shellshocked opponent.

“He’s a proper player – you have to play much better against him than I did,” said world number 17 Hamilton from Nottingham.

“If you don’t play well he will just hammer you. He called the shots all the way through. His long potting is great and he can only get better and better.

“There’s no reason why he can’t win a tournament like this even though it’s so early in his career. He has already won one, albeit in front of his own crowd, and he has a lot of bottle.”

Stuart Bingham, who recently gained the single qualifying place available for next year’s Masters, maintained his excellent form with a 9-4 victory against Robert Milkins.

“I didn’t play all that great but in the last three frames I scored well,” said the world number 37, who produced runs of 95, 77 and 88 to clinch a meeting with 2003 champion Matthew Stevens.

“I’ve got into the habit of winning this season, possibly because I got back with my coach halfway through last season, and I’m feeling more relaxed and confident now.”

Barry Hawkins, a semi-finalist at the first ranking tournament of the campaign, the Grand Prix in Preston, will face Joe Perry after a 9-5 win against Stuart Pettman.

“The Grand Prix was a fair while ago now and it’s hard to keep your confidence going, but Ihave a lot more belief in myself now and I feel I can pack a punch and compete at this level,” said world number 30 Hawkins, who knocked Stephen Hendry out of this tournament last year.

In the morning’s action, last year’s runner-up David Gray left himself with an uphill task to avoid a first-round exit.

The world number 23, who compiled a maximum 147 break on the way to the 2004 final which he lost to Stephen Maguire, trailed 5-3 after the opening session against rookie Mark Allen.

In his first season on the professional circuit, world junior champion Allen won three qualifying matches to earn his place at the Barbican Centre and beat Steve Davis and John Higgins at the inaugural Northern Ireland Trophy, his home event.

He continued his impressive form by taking a 4-0 lead over Gray, including breaks of 75 and 66, before his opponent began to find his range and gave himself a fighting chance for tonight’s conclusion.

There was also a good start for another Ulsterman, Joe Swail edging 5-3 ahead of Andy Hicks in a battle of two former World Championship semi-finalists, while Mark King had the same scoreline in his favour against Ryan Day.

Indeed all five matches were 5-3 at the end of the morning’s play with Ricky Walden in front of Michael Holt, and the highest break of the tournament so far, a 133, helped Thailand’s James Wattana to gain the advantage over Drew Henry.