World Snooker Championship
Date: 18 April-4 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live. Full TV schedule  Ding will play Stephen Hendry in the next round |
China's Ding Junhui survived a scare to beat compatriot Liang Wenbo 10-8 and reach the second round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. Ding, world number 11, went into the last session with a 5-4 lead which was extended to 7-4 with runs of 58 and 72. But qualifier Liang hit back to win the next four frames with Ding failing to pot a single ball for over an hour. However, nerves started to get the better of Liang and Ding fired in 111, 91 and 63 to clinch the match. Ding will now play seven-time champion Stephen Hendry in the next round.  | 606: DEBATE |
"Liang is a very attacking player but today he was very careful, focusing on every ball," Ding said. "When he was 8-7 ahead he missed a crucial red which allowed me to make a clearance and after that I relaxed. I didn't think about how many people were watching in China, I just concentrated on my game." Joe Perry became the first seed to be dumped out of the Crucible following a 10-6 defeat to qualifier Jamie Cope . Perry, who reached the semi-finals last year, took a 5-4 lead into the final session, but only managed to win one frame against a confident Cope. The Stoke player, who has reached the finals of the Grand Prix and China Open, made six breaks over 50. "After five frames I felt a little bit unsettled but I just tried to forget about it and enjoy it," said Cop who was 4-1 down at one stage. "I was just a little bit nervous but I was expecting that and it was nice to overcome it. I feel as if I'm in the tournament now." Cope will now play either John Higgins or Michael Holt in the next round. Meanwhile, 2002 champion Peter Ebdon is facing a battle to overcome 1995 finalist and qualifier Nigel Bond after falling behind 5-3 after the first session of their opening match. A tentative start from both players meant just one point was scored in the first 15 minutes of the first frame, which Bond eventually won. Ebdon hit back with a century break, but Bond, on his 15th Crucible appearance, hit breaks of 74 and 79 for a 3-1 lead. Ebdon then made 65 but the 1995 finalist crucially won two of the last three frame to gain a priceless lead.
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