Guess who won? Ding(UK Snooker Champion) Vs Pan(All Japan Champion)

[X Breaker]

Hi everyone,

Some of you may be awared that 18 years old Ding from China has just won the UK Snooker Championship. He is the first Chinese/non UK player who has ever won this title.

They have arranged a 9 ball challenge match, during a celebration ceremony for Ding, between Ding and Ms. Pan Xiaoting in China a few days ago.

Ms. Pan Xiaoting is a two times All Japan Championship champion who is ranked #3 in the WPA ranking now.

This is the first time the best woman 9 ball player from China plays 9 ball with the best snooker player from China.

After the match, Pan also gave a brief trick shot exhibition.

Guess who won the match?

Hope you enjoy the pictures, courtesy of www.my147.com

Richard

 

[X Breaker]

More pictures

 

[X Breaker]

More pictures.

 

[Colin Colenso]

As it was 9-ball, it was not too much of a shock to see Pan Xiao Ting victorious 5-2.

Haven't been watching the TV so missed the news here. Thanks for the update Richard, I thought that event was going to be in a couple of months.

 

[bruin70]

As it was 9-ball, it was not too much of a shock to see Pan Xiao Ting victorious 5-2.

Haven't been watching the TV so missed the news here. Thanks for the update Richard, I thought that event was going to be in a couple of months.

i was going to say the 9ball champ, but thanks for spoiling it

 

[pinkisntwell]

Wow, this is the first time that I see Ding having a happy look on his face, 99.9% of the time he's like a robot.

 

[bruin70]

Wow, this is the first time that I see Ding having a happy look on his face, 99.9% of the time he's like a robot.

it's the chick

 

[X Breaker]

This is the first time the two has ever played 9 ball. According to Ms. Pan, although they are very good friends, the only ball game they have played was ping pong.

The first game, Mr. Ding broke, and he could not make a ball. Ms. Pan won without giving Ding much of a chance.

Ding won the second game after a few safty exchanges.

The third and forth games were just like the first game, Pan won, 3:1 for Pan.

Pan broke the fifth game and she scratched, Ding took ball in hand and made a combo. 3:2 for Pan.

In the sixth game, Ms. Pan went for a few tough shots, made them, and got on the hill, 4:2 for Pan.

In the last game, Ding tried to "snooker" Pan, Pan made a beautiful jump shot and ran out the table to win 5:2.

After the match, Ding commented, "9 ball is not my game, I am not familiar with how the table played, and my cue ball control was not good enough. Ms. Pan is a World Class 9 ball player, it is not suprising that she beat me."

Pan smiled and told the press, "it was just a friendly game."

A lot of audience commented that this was the first time they saw a smile on Mr. Ding's face when he was at the table.

Mr. Ding, and Ms. Pan now belong to the same sponsor, Star Brand billiards table, which was also the organizer for this event.

Mr. Ding has just left China for the UK this afternoon, He will play in a qualifier for the World Snooker Championship held on 8 Jan.

Ms. Pan will leave for the US on Jan 11.

Owning to her language barrier, Ms. Pan will be coming to the US with an assistant. If she wins the qualifier, she will play her first WPBA event in Feb in North Caroline.

Note: For those of you who may not be too familiar with Mr. Ding, he is the youngest ever Asian Snooker Champion, who won the title in May 2002 at the tender age of 15.
In August the same year (2002), he won the World Junior Snooker Championship and became the first Chinese World snooker champion.
Two months later, Mr. Ding represented China and scored a Gold Medal in the Asia Game. This is the first Asia Game Gold Medal China had ever received in a snooker event.
In August 2003, Mr. Ding, still playing as an amateur, beat the then no. 1 ranked player in the world, Mark Williams, twice, in Hong Kong and Thailand, during the Masters.
Mr. Ding turned professional in Sept, 2003.
He is currently residing in the UK during tournament season.

Richard

 

[Colin Colenso]

Thanks for the detailed report Richard.

Will be interesting to see if Pan can win her first US event.

And will be interesting to see if Ding can win the World Snooker Championship this year.

 

[X Breaker]

Thanks for the detailed report Richard.

Will be interesting to see if Pan can win her first US event.

And will be interesting to see if Ding can win the World Snooker Championship this year.

Colin,

In my opinion, the WPBA is certainly the toughest tour for women in the world. Winning even one tour stop is a great feat on its own, and I am sure that is the short term goal of Ms. Pan. I have a great deal of respect for all the ladies on the tour. It is very inspiring to see them working so hard to fulfill their dreams.

Mr. Ding is also competing on the toughest snooker tour in the World. Mr. Ding is a very exceptional shot maker, and he is very focused. If I have my facts right, he still has a chance to become the youngest ever World snooker champion as he is only 18 years old.

All the best to them in 2006.

Richard