These are the reports shared by WST on what happened on day 5 in York
Ding Beats Ford To Close In On Masters Spot
Ding Junhui ended Tom Ford’s hopes of qualifying for the Masters and enhanced his own with a 6-3 win to make the quarter-finals of the MrQ UK Championship in York.
This afternoon’s clash was a straight shoot out between world number 17 Ding and world number 16 Ford. They came into the encounter knowing that the loser would no longer be in contention for a place at Alexandra Palace, with the seeding cut off a the end of the week.
The result leaves Ding in pole position to secure a return to the Masters, having missed out on qualification in the previous two seasons. Iran’s Hossein Vafaei has the best chance of pipping him, but he must at least make the semi-finals to stand a chance. Defeat for Ford ends his hopes of qualifying for the Masters for the first time.
Ding was runner-up to Mark Allen last year in York and he now finds himself just two wins away from a return to the final. Next up he faces either Mark Williams or Jamie Clarke in the last eight.
This afternoon’s match got off to a blistering start, as both players put on a break building masterclass. Consecutive runs of 126 and 110 saw Ding move 2-0 ahead. However, Ford hit back with breaks of 118 and 98 to restore parity at 2-2.
The fifth frame went the way of Ding, before a dramatic sixth. It came down to a safety battle on the final black after Ford failed to gain position on the final ball. Ding eventually fluked it to the green pocket to move 4-2 ahead. The next two frames were traded, before Ding got himself over the line with a break of 106 to wrap up the 6-3 win.
“When I got chances I went into the pack and opened the balls. I made centuries in those first two frames and I could have made more today. He also played good though,” said three-time UK Champion Ding.
“I didn’t think about the ranking points before the match. I just wanted to win the match. It can be up and down so quickly that I can’t really concentrate on the rankings before the match.
“I love to play here. I’ve always said that. I like the venue and the weather in the UK in November and December is the best for snooker. The tables are perfect and the temperature inside the venue is right for this big event.”
On the other table, Judd Trump blitzed to a 6-0 whitewash win over Jamie Jones as he continued his quest for a first UK title since 2011.
Trump defeated Mark Allen 10-8 in the final 12 years ago, but despite being to the final on two occasions since then he is yet to register a second UK Championship victory.
The Ace in the Pack is the form player of the season so far, having won three consecutive titles at the English Open, Wuhan Open and the Northern Ireland Open. He was ruthless in his demolition of Welshman Jones today, firing in breaks of 100, 59 and 51 along the way. Trump awaits the winner of Mark Selby against Barry Hawkins in the last eight.
Ding played really well indeed. Ford looked frustrated towards the end but he was again a really strong player on the day. Trump on the other hand wasn’t tested. Jamie Jones can be truly excellent on his day but yesterday was definitely not his day. He played poorly.
Selby Edges Hawkins In Epic
Mark Selby defeated his flatmate for the week Barry Hawkins 6-5 after a thrilling final frame decider in their last 16 clash at the MrQ UK Championship in York.
Selby and Hawkins have become close friends in recent years, but this evening’s encounter was contested fiercely right down to the final balls. Hawkins had a chance in the last frame to clear, but agonisingly snookered himself on the final blue. Eventually it was four-time World Champion Selby who potted a difficult blue bridging over the top of the black and then deposited the pink to get over the line.
Victory earns Selby a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with player of the season so far Judd Trump, who won three consecutive titles at the English Open, Wuhan Open and Northern Ireland Open. However, Selby can take confidence from the fact he won their most recent meeting at the 2023 Shanghai Masters 6-1.
The 22-time ranking event winner will be hoping that he can capture his first silverware of the season, having regularly knocked on the door. Selby has already made semi-finals at the Shanghai Masters and the European Masters and was runner-up at the British Open.
Selby fired in breaks of 142, 101, 76 and 70 on his way to establishing a 5-3 lead this evening. However, Hawkins replied with contributions of 84 and 88 to force a decider, where Selby eventually got over the line after a 58-minute final frame.
“I’m happy to win, but I’m exhausted. It was a tough game and it was always going to be tough. Barry gives you nothing out there. You basically have to play like that to beat him. He is a quality player,” said 40-year-old Selby.
“I just said I was sorry to him at the end. We are sharing an apartment together and the way he was going at the end I was thinking I’d rather he had beaten me 6-2. The way the match went for either of us it was going to be a horrible way to lose.
“Judd is the player of the season by a long stretch. He is definitely the man in form and the man to beat. I am going to be up against it. I’ll have to play somewhere similar to that or the performance against Mark Joyce to stand a chance. I will enjoy the challenge.”
On the other table, Mark Williams reached the 110th ranking event quarter-final of his career, after a 6-4 defeat of fellow Welshman Jamie Clarke.
Williams crafted three century runs of 138, 107 and 100 on his way to this evening’s victory. Next up the world number eight faces a last eight meeting with China’s Ding Junhui.
The Hawkins v Selby match was always going to be hard fought and difficult for both of them. You have to admire their professionalism under such circumstances. This was one of the very best matches so far this season but I doubt either if them enjoyed it.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 