Ding Junhui delight as he ends barren spell

The Chinese star overcame John Higgins 10-8 in a marathon final which ended past midnight at the Telford International Centre to repeat his 2005 success.

Ding has now risen to number six in the provisional 2010-2011 rankings after being in danger 12 months ago of dropping out of the top 16.

He said: "It is great to win this title for a second time. I have been a long time not winning tournaments. I am so happy to end that run.

"I have struggled with my game in recent times. I have had some bad shot selection. I chose the wrong balls and made it difficult to build breaks. I learnt from that.

"During the first match here I was not that focused but after the first match I came back and concentrated more and played better."

The 22-year-old gained immense pride from overcoming four of the world's top five players in Stephen Maguire (ranked two), Shaun Murphy (three), Higgins (four) and Ali Carter (five).

Ding said: "This has to be my best tournament victory ever. It has been a crazy week but I've beaten four of the top five players. It has been brilliant.

"I also feel I am a better player than in 2005.
"I've learnt a lot from all the tournaments I've played in and reaped the benefits of the experiences."

Higgins looked jaded after his marathon semi-final win over Ronnie O'Sullivan and admitted he failed to fire on all cylinders.

He was left to rue several missed chances in the closing frames, including a crucial final brown in the 15th with the match locked at 7-7.

Higgins said: "It was a strange match, one of the strangest I've ever been involved in.

"It was just a slog from start to finish. Ding started pretty well but it was just the way the balls were running sometimes. It was pretty difficult.

"Not that it was difficult some of the shots I missed! I didn't play at all.

"I was 7-6 up and got in with the reds spread and should have done better and Ding got back to seven-all and then there was the brown I missed in the next.

"I don't even think I will have nightmares over that brown. It was past the nightmare stage.

"I don't know what to say about that. It was the worst shot I ever missed in my life and that basically turned the match.

"I missed three or four unbelievable balls and didn't deserve to win.

"But full credit to Ding. It was only a matter of time before he would start to show the form he had showed earlier in his career."