Ding Junhui beats Chris Wakelin 10-7 in snooker’s International Championship final to pip ex-Asda driver to £175k prize
DING JUNHUI produced a stunning comeback to win the International Championship.
The 37-year-old beat Chris Wakelin 10-7 to lift the trophy in China.
Wakelin came flying out the blocks and raced into a 4-1 lead in the first session.
But Ding, who has won his first ranking title in five years, then launched a stunning comeback in front of his home supporters in Nanjing.
He won an incredible six frames on the bounce to go 7-4 up.
Wakelin stayed within touching distance to set up a thrilling finale.
But Ding played a brilliant penultimate frame with a break of 72 and then followed it up by holding his nerve in a tense last frame.
The victory sees him take home a cheque for £175,000.
Ding was joined by his daughter as he celebrated victory and his family looked overcome with emotion as his wife wiped away tears.
Wakelin’s stunning run to the final sees him pocket £75,000.
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Not bad for a former Asda delivery driver who quit snooker as a teenager in need of more money.
Wakelin gave snooker another go in 2012 and he has now delivered the goods, climbing into the world’s top 16 for the first time in his career.
He is expecting a baby in February and claims the start of his family has restored his snooker motivation.