Ding sends Higgins packing

Chinese sensation Ding Junhui dumped out world champion John Higgins at the SAGA Insurance Masters tonight.

Last year’s runner-up slipped 3-1 and 4-3 behind to last season’s Crucible champion at the Wembley Conference Centre, but battled back to win three frames in succession for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I’m just happy to win my first game,” reflected Ding who, after clinching victory, showed rare emotion by punching the air in delight.

“He (John) beat me twice in the Premier League this season. I tried very hard in those matches and still lost.

“Beating John is good for my confidence. I really want to win this tournament.”

Higgins had breaks of 71, 73 and 62, but Ding – beaten 10-3 by crowd favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan in last season’s final – progressed with breaks of 74, 46, 54, 135 and 96.

“There was a lot of pressure out there, but I’m happy to have won my first game,” added the 20-year-old, who now meets Hong Kong’s Marco Fu, this season’s Aberdeen Grand Prix winner.

“I missed a lot of easy balls, but I’m very happy to have won the match.

“I’m still missing shots under pressure, but I just want to win my matches. I needed a big win like this.

“It’s difficult to win out there. Before the match I felt no confidence, but I enjoyed playing John.

“Last year (the final) is in the past. I just have to concentrate on this year.”

Wishaw’s Higgins has struggled to produce his best form this season – in fact he has not yet won a knockout match this season.

“I should have gone 5-5 all, but I just felt I didn’t get the little bit of run when I needed it,” reflected the world number one.

“I thought he played well, it was a high quality match. Some days you get the run, but there will be plenty of days when I will get the run on my side.

“He’s fabulous. He’s a fantastic player. There’s nothing he can’t do in snooker if he puts his mind to it.

“It’s all about his belief and desire, but right here and right now he’s a fantastic player.

“If he doesn’t add mental strength to his game then he’ll never do anything. He’s too good a player for that not to happen.

“To become a better player you’ve always got to have defeats in your career, but that will make him better.”

Asked whether he was feeling the pressure of trying to perform as the world champion, the Scot simply replied: “Not at all.”

Former world champion Graeme Dott failed to shake-off his bogey man Stephen Lee tonight as he crashed out of the tournament.

The Glaswegian has now been beaten by Wiltshire’s Lee in three successive Masters meetings, but revenge looked on the cards after the Scot powered into a commanding 5-3 lead.

Lee held his nerve under immense pressure and won the 11th and deciding frame on the final black to clinch a dramatic 6-5 win at Wembley Conference Centre.

Victory for Lee earnt him a quarter-final meeting with former World and UK champion Peter Ebdon in the next phase.

“My clearance in the last frame (64) will stick with me for a very long time,” said Lee.

“I could have been 4-0 down, but I stuck in there and just kept plugging away. It’s very satisfying to come back like that. It looked as though I was going to lose the match.”

A shellshocked Dott reflected: “I didn’t think I could lose the match, especially when I went 5-3 up.

“A bad bounce in the last frame cost me. I’m disappointed to be out, but I only had half chances to win it.

“I had a good break of 61 in the last frame, but Stephen made a great clearance. All credit to him.”