Snooker: magical break doesn't save Ding Junhui

The Sheffield-based cueman sublimely made the sixth maximum of his career to reduce his arrears to 4-2, but world No.3 Neil Robertson wrapped up a 5-2 victory in the next frame at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena.

Ronnie O’Sullivan generated numerous headlines earlier this week when he snubbed a potential 147, claiming the £12,000 prize money on offer was “too cheap”.

But Ding – who earns considerably more than ‘the Rocket’ thanks to sponsorships back home in China – is adamant he would never turn down a chance to make a bit of history.

“I just wanted to make the 147 for myself, you don’t get many chances for one, so you have to take them when you can,” said Ding, whose 147 was his first since 2013.

“For me the prize money is ok but making 147s is about new records for me, I like to beat the records every time I play in a tournament.

“I got the first opportunity in that frame which was important because there was always a chance of a 147 as the reds were looking good.

“I went for it and it was 4-1 at the time, so it was my only chance but it was a good one and I made it.”

The Welsh Open is being shown live on Eurosport all week and Eurosport’s expert line-up includes five-time world champion Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan, six-time World Championship finalist Jimmy “The Whirlwind” White, 1986 world champion Joe Johnson and former world No.3 Neal Foulds.

Ding’s campaign at the event is now over but he has shown signs of his best form returning this week and the world No.12 is confident once again – especially with coach Terry Griffiths in his corner.

“My form is coming back now and I was happy with how I played this week. I’m looking forward to the next tournament now and I’m happy again,” added Ding.

“Terry Griffiths has helped me make big changes. I wasn’t practising right and when I was playing tournaments I wasn’t always happy and sometimes I just wanted to leave.

“He tried to make me think differently about this and make me happy which is going well."

*Eurosport is the Home of Snooker, showing 19 tournaments per season, including the World Championship, UK Championship, Welsh Open and the Masters, as well as the exclusive series ‘The Ronnie O’Sullivan Show’.