World Championship 2019: Ding Junhui beats Anthony McGill
- From the section Snooker
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| Betfred World Snooker Championship |
|---|
| Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 20 April - 6 May |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, Red Button, iPlayer, Connected TV, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app. |
Ding Junhui showed signs of his best form before scrapping his way into round two of the World Championship with a 10-7 win in a high-quality match against Anthony McGill.
The Chinese, who led 6-3 overnight, made a tournament-high break of 134 and scores of 99 and 91 for a 9-5 lead.
Scotland's McGill, the world number 24, battled back to 9-7 in Sheffield.
But an increasingly edgy Ding finished with a stylish 106 to reach the last 16 for the 10th time.
"I played well but it is not good enough if I want to win the tournament," he said.
"He came back strong, but I had chances to win it. I need to get better and have good concentration for the whole match."
Ding, the 2016 runner-up, has not reached a ranking event semi-final this season but managed nine breaks of 50 or more.
McGill also scored six half-centuries and played a full part in a fascinating game, but Ding's heavy scoring when he got a chance eventually proved the difference to set up a potential meeting with Judd Trump.
"I am not worried about the draw," added 10th seed Ding. "I have to beat the best players to win titles. I need more confidence because I haven't played good this season."
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In the other morning match, four-time champion John Higgins took a 6-3 lead over fellow veteran Crucible campaigner Mark Davis.
Davis, at 46 the oldest player in this year's event, won through qualifying for a record 10th time to reach snooker's showpiece event for the 11th time in his career.
He began with a break 57 to take the opener, but scores of 100, 61 and 75 helped Higgins to a 4-2 lead.
Davis replied with his second half-century, but Higgins, on his 25th consecutive World Championship appearance, took the next three, scoring three-half centuries in the process.
In the afternoon session, Luca Brecel and Gary Wilson play to a finish and Shaun Murphy is in action against Luo Honghao.
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