Chinese teen sensation causes stir at Wembley

Snooker hailed a new star at Wembley today as Chinese teenager Ding Junhui made a stunning debut in the British Masters.

The 16-year-old, the youngest ever player to compete at the Conference Centre in the 29-year history of the competition, defeated world number 16 Joe Perry 6-3.

He did so with two superb century breaks, including a best of 118 in frame six.

Ding now faces Stephen Lee, the world number seven, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ding, the former world under-21 champion and Asian Games gold medallist from Shanghai, speaking through a translator, said: “I felt confident I could beat Joe.

“But I was nervous before I went up the stairs into the arena.“

Asked whether he could become only the second overseas Masters winner after Canadian Cliff Thorburn, Ding smiled: “I have a small chance.“

He may have a small chance but he looks to have a big future on the evidence of his victory over Perry.

He took up the game at the age of nine.

“When I had nothing to do at home,” he explained. “I was playing on a full-sized table a few months later.“

Ding left school at the age of 13 but is now the main breadwinner for his family of three.

He now practices up to eight hours a day and admits: “Sometimes it is tiring. But I have to push myself if I want to become world champion one day.“

Ding’s breakthrough follows quickly on from the success of compatriot Liu Song. Song became the first Chinese player to qualify for the final stages of a ranking tournament when he played in the Welsh Open at Cardiff last month.

Ding was never in danger of losing the match after taking the opening three frames in 50 minutes against the former European Open runner-up.

He also showed commendable nerve after Perry cut his arrears to 3-2 and then 4-3.

And in addition to his two centuries, he also contributed runs of 58, 62, 61 and a match winning 55 in frame nine.

On a day of firsts for the Masters, Ding’s match was officiated by Scotland’s Michaela Tabb, the first female referee to take charge at Wembley.