| Venue: Barbican Centre, York Dates: Saturday, 25 November – Sunday, 3 December |
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Ding Junhui fought back to beat defending champion Mark Allen 6-5 in a thrilling final-frame decider in the first round of the UK Championship.
The result sees Ding exact a measure of revenge for last year’s final when the Northern Irishman overturned a 6-1 deficit to triumph 10-7 in York.
Breaks of 67, 106 and 60 had helped Allen establish a commanding 4-2 lead.
However, China’s Ding then reeled off four of the last five frames and sealed his win with a superb century break.
Mark Williams also advanced with a 6-4 victory over Fan Zhengyi and will now meet England’s Kyren Wilson or his Welsh compatriot Jamie Clarke in the last 16.
Three-time UK champion Ding will play either England’s Tom Ford or Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham next.
More to follow.
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