Can Ding Junhui win the championship for the third time at his doorstep?, Starting again from the Shanghai Masters in the new season
The 2023 World Snooker Shanghai Masters is Ding Junhui's first competition of the new season. After winning the Chinese derby against Skahui on the 11th, he will compete with Neil Robertson for a spot in the quarterfinals on the 13th.
Ding Junhui's last professional competition was at the World Championships in April this year, when it was just a round of tournaments. After more than 140 days without playing games, Ding Junhui admitted that he is not confident about his form. "I think we should maintain a long-term playing state, especially since I gave up the European Masters and the Champions League at the beginning of the season. Many players will use those two games to slowly regain their rhythm."
The first round was the Chinese derby, and it was also a domestic competition. Ding Junhui felt the pressure. Starting the game with a big score of 3-0, Ding Junhui was able to handle the game more calmly. "In fact, the opponent also has opportunities, but he didn't grasp them well himself. I don't think he performed well, just seized the opportunity in the final stage. The game is like this, it's impossible to play well every day as expected. It can only be said that in this chaotic rhythm, we try our best to win every set."
Ding Junhui competed with Si Jiahui in the game
When it comes to preparing for the next game against Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui said, "What I can do is adjust my mentality and try to play more steadily in the game."
With a flick of a finger. Ding Junhui is already a 36 year old veteran, and even if the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, he is still the "China's leader" in snooker sports, not only reflected in his athletic performance, but also in his professional spirit of self-discipline. In June of this year, Chinese snooker sports encountered a dark moment, with 10 Chinese players being suspended to varying degrees on charges of manipulating the game. Among them, young players such as Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong have achieved excellent results, with a great momentum to catch up with their predecessors Ding Junhui, but one mistake has become a lifelong regret.
Ding Junhui played a crucial role in the flourishing development of China's snooker movement. In the 2005 China Open, 18-year-old Ding Junhui won his first ranking championship in his career, and since then he has become a flagship figure in Chinese snooker. At the end of that year, Ding Junhui won the championship of the English Championship in one fell swoop. Ding Junhui emerged from the sky and rushed out of the country with a Chinese snooker. Under the leadership of Ding Junhui, the Chinese army gradually gained momentum in the professional snooker industry.
As the Chinese snooker army continues to grow, Ding Junhui once faced the possibility of losing the title of "China's Number One Brother". Although his form fluctuates, 14 ranking race championships are enough to make him stand out among the crowd. Ding Junhui is not too worried about the impact of younger generations and potential ranking surpassing. "This is something that will happen sooner or later. But in my current situation, I will still play my game well and not think too much about others."
Si Jiahui
Last season, Ding Junhui performed well in the snooker English Championship, leading 6-1 in the final. However, his form declined thereafter and he ultimately lost 7-10 to Mark Allen. However, he defeated Tachai Uno in the final of the Snooker 6 Red Ball World Championship, ending his 39 month championship drought.
Ding Junhui expressed great regret for missing the championship in the English Championship, and his goal for the new season is still to win the championship. "Every year, every new season, I will imagine for myself that it will be better than last year, but the reality may not be as expected, sometimes it can be more cruel."
Some people say that Ding Junhui is becoming more and more "Buddhist". Perhaps the accumulation of time has worn away his youthful vigor, but he always has a champion's heart. Just on the path of pursuing the championship, he is more receptive to reality and allows it to flow naturally, rather than just putting pressure on himself.
Until today, Ding Junhui is still learning and hopes to make breakthroughs, just as his father has always emphasized, to concentrate the strengths of his predecessors on himself. "It's quite difficult to show everyone a comprehensive version of myself, and I haven't reached this level yet. Although I'm getting older, this exercise can help me learn a lot."
Ding Junhui competed with Si Jiahui in the game
If it were for other sports, Ding Junhui might be able to retire and succeed. But snooker is a special sport that does not belong to explosive sports. It is more like a cumulative endurance run, not that as one gets older or their physical fitness declines, they cannot play. In 2018, 43 year old "Golden Left Hand" Williams became the oldest player to win a World Championships championship since 1978, achieving his third World Championship coronation. In the 2020 Snooker Masters, 43 year old Bingham became the oldest champion of the Masters.
Ding Junhui has won the Shanghai Masters twice before, and it is quite difficult for him to win the championship in the first game of the new season this year. In fact, having a calm mindset and trying to extend one's sports lifespan, I believe Ding Junhui will bring new surprises to fans.
