CHINA’S Ding Junhui won the SangSom 6 Red World Championship for the first time following an 8-7 black ball victory over Stuart Bingham in Thailand on Saturday.

    In a final deserving of a Hollywood movie epic, Bingham, unbeaten in his nine previous championship matches, failed to get a 10 out of 10 rating all because of the one bad shot he played in the week-long event.

    This came in a spell-binding decider, which Ding won on the final black after England’s Bingham, looking all over a winner, somehow missed the pink into a top pocket having made a break of 25.

    Ding still had to clear up the final red and colors to take the title, which he did so with praiseworthy accuracy to take the trophy, which he received from Suwat Liptapanlop, vice president of the Olympic Committee of Thailand.

    If snooker required a magic formula for Olympic recognition, this final surely gift-wrapped it in front of a key eyewitness.

    The title winning break deciding frame break of 33 was immaculately put together as Ding displayed nerves of steel to win his first title of the season.

    “To say I’m over the moon is an understatement. The pressure I was under after Stuart looked all over the winner was immense. I’m proud of the way I handled it,” said the new champion.

    Bingham was almost lost for words at his misfortune. “The one bad shot I’ve played all week denied me the title. All credit to Ding for handling the pressure he was under though to be honest I’m gutted,” he said.

    Twice Ding opened up a two frame lead by the time the final reached the halfway stage but Bingham, the 2015 world champion, tenaciously fought back to level the scores 4-4.

    Bingham was in his second 6-red final — he lost the first when beaten 7-3 by Ricky Walden in 2008.

    (SD-Agencies)