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Ding opens Snooker journey with 8-1 lead

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-18 09:46

SHEFFIELD - Chinese top player Ding Junhui opened his campaign at the Snooker World Championships comfortably with an 8-1 lead over Jamie Burnett on Sunday.

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Ding, 24, had little trouble in the first session of his first-round game at the Crucible Theatre, losing just the eighth frame to the 35-year-old Burnett before going into the break.

The world No.4 Ding now is only two frames away from a second-round place as he and Burnett will resume their encounter Monday morning.

Ding has never progressed beyond the second round at the World Championships in his previous four outings, but is expected to break the jinx this time after winning the prestigious Wembley Masters in January.

Later, 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy romped into the second round by beating Marcus Cambell 10-1.

Murphy grabbed a 9-0 lead in the first session on Saturday, coming closer to a second ever whitewash in the history of World Championships.

However, a relaxed Cambell made several superb hits in the opening frame on Sunday, pulling one back 83-5 with a break of 62. But he couldn't stop Murphy from finishing the game after the next frame.

Murphy will wait for the winner between three-time world champion Roonie O'Sullivan and Dominic Dale.

The 35-year-old O'Sullivan is suffering maybe the most painful downturn in his career as the talented player had lost first-round matches at the UK Championship, Wembley Masters, Welsh Open and China Open since last December.

He even considered withdrawing from this year's World Championships last week but finally decided to keep fighting.

Two-time world champion Mark Williams defeated Ryan Day 10-5 after Jamie Cope saw off debutant Andrew Pagett 10-7.

Ali Carter also snatched a place in the second round by beating Dave Harold 10-3.