Snooker China National Championship Report! The defending champion is out, Ding Junhui suffers a 2-6 defeat to Murphy and misses the quarterfinals!

On November 5th, Beijing time, the round of 16 at the Snooker China National Championship was in full swing. A highly anticipated match just concluded between defending champion Ding Junhui and Murphy, showcasing a peak battle among the '80s five tigers. However, the match turned one-sided, with Ding Junhui performing terribly and losing 2-6 to Murphy, failing to reach the last eight and unable to defend his title. It's clear that Ding's current level is indeed below the other four top players of the '80s, and Murphy has become a nemesis for Ding!

Last year, Ding Junhui claimed the 15th ranking title of his career. Now competing as the defending champion in the China National Championship, expectations for him were very high. He advanced smoothly through the first three rounds, but those wins were not very meaningful since his opponents were relatively weak and posed little challenge. Tonight’s rematch against his nemesis Murphy drew great attention, putting immense pressure on Ding. Overcoming this opponent is no easy task!

Once the match began, Ding Junhui immediately made several mistakes, boosting Murphy’s confidence. Murphy quickly launched a strong offensive and defensive attack, securing a dream start with a 3-0 lead. The players then alternated wins, with Ding trailing 1-4, facing a difficult situation. In the sixth frame, Ding scored 81 points in a single visit to narrow the gap. Nonetheless, Murphy maintained his sharp accuracy and relentless attack, winning two more frames consecutively to seal a 6-2 victory, handing Ding his fourth straight loss!

From this match, it’s evident that Ding Junhui’s current level is truly inferior to Murphy’s; he simply can’t overcome him. Murphy’s precision, solid defense, and good fortune allow him to seize opportunities and win. In contrast, Ding’s performance in all areas was poor, showing a significant decline. Therefore, Ding’s loss is understandable. It seems Murphy has become the second biggest nemesis for Ding after Ronnie O’Sullivan. In fact, Ding lacks confidence against top ten players in general, likely losing more than winning. The root cause is a sharp drop in Ding’s overall skills: inconsistent offense, defensive flaws, and no threat on long shots. I wonder if Ding even practices regularly, because his quick losses are numbing!

Written by / Sports Novel