NEIL ROBERTSON and Ding Junhui will go head-to-head on Sunday in the China Open final in Beijing.
Read MoreROBERTSON AND DING IN BEIJING FINALE
DUNN TO FACE DING IN BEIJING
MIKE DUNN caused a big upset at the China Open in Beijing on Friday by knocking out world no.2 Mark Selby.
Read MoreDING RECORD BID REMAINS ON COURSE
DING Junhui swept past John Higgins in what had looked the tie of the last 16 at the China Open with a comfortable 5-2 victory in Beijing.
Read MoreTREADMILL TAKING ITS TOLL
Maybe the demands of a long, hard season are catching up with a few of the players with both world No1 Neil Robertson and world No3 Ding Junhui, two of the undoubted men of the current campaign, suffering with illness during their first-round defeats in Preston. With the China Open following fast after this tournament, a few extra days recovery might not prove the worst thing in the world for either player – especially given the proximity of the World Championships just over three weeks away. It is there that both will want to peak, something they failed to do 12 months ago.
Robertson is just one of the top players who may be looking to follow Ronnie O’Sullivan’s example and attempt to be in peak condition for the major tournaments rather than play in just about everything in a mad scramble for points and money. Admittedly, a luxury that is far easier for a player to indulge with recent tournament successes and a few quid in the bank behind him. Michael Holt was another pleading “the worst case of man flu”, a state of distress not helped by the turmoil surrounding his beloved Nottingham Forest who sacked manager Billy Davies this week with their play-off chances starting to fade away.
DING FALLS EARLY TO WOOLLASTON
DEFENDING Players Tour Championship Finals champion Ding Junhui fell at the first hurdle on Tuesday, the victim of an excellent comeback from Ben Woollaston.
Read MoreDING STILL IN THE SWING
DING JUNHUI made a great escape at the Haikou World Open on Wednesday to remain on track for a fifth ranking title this season.
Read More'NICE TO PASS ONE OF STEPHEN'S MILESTONES'
RONNIE O’Sullivan admitted it was nice to pinch one of Stephen Hendry’s records after making a record 12th maximum to seal a 9-3 victory over Ding Junhui in Newport.
Read MoreO'SULLIVAN WINS WITH A 147 FLOURISH
RONNIE O’Sullivan made record 12th maximum 147 break to beat Ding Junhui 9-3 with the ultimate flourish and win the BetVictor Welsh Open on Sunday night.
Read MoreO'SULLIVAN SURGES INTO COMMANDING LEAD
RONNIE O’Sullivan took advantage of a below-par display from man of the season Ding Junhui in the first session of the BetVictor Welsh Open final to surge into a 7-1 lead.
Read MoreTHE FINAL: DING v O'SULLIVAN
The last BetVictor Welsh Open final to be staged at the Newport Centre could well turn into one of the best the tournament has ever seen.
Read MoreDING'S DREAM MATCH-UP, O'SULLIVAN'S ESCAPE
DING JUNHUI admitted that a match-up against Ronnie O’Sullivan was a “dream final” having won the only previous ranking event showpiece the pair have contested.
Read MoreO'SULLIVAN INTO FINAL WITH BRILLIANT DISPLAY
RONNIE O’Sullivan had one of those nights to defy superlatives in beating Barry Hawkins 6-2 to set up a BetVictor Welsh open final to savour against Ding Junhui.
Read MoreDING CLOSE TO EQUALLING HENDRY HISTORY
DING JUNHUI gave himself a real chance of claiming a record-equalling fifth ranking title of the season by reaching the final of the BetVictor Welsh Open on Saturday.
Read MoreSEMI-FINALS PREVIEW
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ding Junhui are on a collision course at the BetVictor Welsh Open in Newport.
Read MoreDING DODGES A BULLET AGAINST WALKER
DING JUNHUI breathed a huge sigh of relief after avoiding an embarrassing exit at the BetVictor Welsh Open on Friday.
Read MoreWALKER REACHES FIRST QUARTER-FINAL
JOEL WALKER continued his terrific run at the BetVictor Welsh Open with a 4-3 win over defending champion Stephen Maguire.
Read MoreDING'S MARATHON SEASON ROLLS ON
DING JUNHUI’s bid for a fifth ranking title of an astonishing season rolls on at the BetVictor Welsh Open following a 4-1 victory over Jamie Cope in Newport.
Read MoreCHINA INVESTMENT A WAKE-UP CALL FOR UK
DING JUNHUI came out on top in the latest battle between China and England, but those that could follow he and Judd Trump to the top are currently the subject of intense scrutiny.
Read MoreDING DYNASTY CONTINUES IN BERLIN
We pay tribute to Ding Junhui, who has now won four ranking titles this season…
Read MoreSHI Yuanyuan, or Victoria to give her the English name she chose, is a well-known figure on the tour, a former journalist providing copy for Chinese news outlets and web sites turned Sheffield-based entrepreneur. As well as organising waistcoat sponsorship logos with Chinese companies for players Victoria has since the summer been looking after Ding Junhui following his parting of the ways with long-time managers Garry Baldrey and Keith Warren. We at Inside Snooker don’t know what type of green tea she has put him on, but it is working. Four ranking titles, and counting.