Ding hits back to seal China Open

Feature: Could Ding be snooker's saviour? China Open results/draw

Home favourite Ding Jun Hui produced a magnificent fightback to stun former world champion Stephen Hendry 9-5 and claim the China Open title.

Hendry rattled off breaks of 92 and 108 to take the first two frames before Ding hit back with a 65 clearance.

Hendry then took the next two frames to create a comfortable 4-1 cushion.

But the 18-year-old Ding responded with an 85 break, levelled at the interval and then added another century, before wrapping up the match with a 103.

Ding does not receive a penny of the £30,000 first prize as he was given a wild card to compete in the tournament.

If he can eventually break into the top 16 I'm sure he'll be there or thereabouts winning more tournaments Hendry on Ding Jun Hui

His exploits were watched by a television audience of around 100m but he said afterwards: "I didn't feel any pressure because I looked at it as a practice match to learn from Stephen.

"Winning this will give me a lot of confidence for next season and that's just what I needed because I've lost so many matches lately I should have won.

"I had a bit of luck in the afternoon session and then everything I did seemed to go right."

Hendry cursed his luck in the latter stages, commenting: "I had a terrible run of the balls from 4-2 to 4-4 and then I didn't perform.

Well played Ding Junhui! What a brilliant performance from the youngster From StephenLeeFan Have your say on Five Live

"I don't think I've ever found it more difficult to get position from one ball to the next. That was frustrating.

"Ding's a great talent. There's no doubt about that and what he's done in front of his home crowd is a real achievement.

"We'll wait to see what happens next season but if he can eventually break into the top 16 I'm sure he'll be there or thereabouts winning more tournaments in the future."