Ding destroys Finnish star

Chinese teenager Ding Junhui fired in three centuries to storm into the final qualifying round of the Welsh Open at Prestatyn.

Ding, 18, put together efforts of 131, 104 and 106 to blow away Finnish number one Robin Hull 5-0.

The rout took only 63 minutes to complete and sends Ding, who outpointed Hull 494-49, through to a meeting with Ricky Walden.

Despite winning the UK Championship last month, Ding is required to pre-qualify for the final stages of ranking events because he began the season 62nd in the rankings.

However, he is on course to join the elite top 16 in the world for the first time if he qualifies for Newport, does well at the China Open in March and beats Barry Hawkins in the final qualifying round of the 888.com World Championship to earn a Crucible debut.

Another teenager, 19-year-old Northern Irishman Mark Allen, moved to within one round of Newport after securing a 5-1 victory over Yorkshireman Jimmy Michie.