Snooker: Ding to Make World Championship History

Ding Junhui became the first Chinese player to qualify for the final stages of the World Championship by beating Mark Davis, the world, 10-6 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield last night.

Ding, 19, has won three world-ranking titles but was required to qualify as he is not among the elite top-16 ranked players, who are automatically seeded through to the Crucible.

Ding struggled as Davis compiled breaks of 129, 73 and 79 in building a 4-2 lead but raised his game from 6-6 and finished off with back to back centuries of 114 and 126.

"I didn't play that well but my safety was good," he said. "After I went 8-6 up I felt better and played two good frames to win."