'Poker Face' Ding First Into Quarters
China’s Ding Junhui entered the arena to Lady GaGa’s ‘Poker Face’ and showed no sign of emotion as he ended the hopes of Marcus Campbell at the 12Bet.com World Open in Glasgow.
Ding started in clinical fashion, making a 110 break in the first frame after his opponent caught the green off an attempted safety shot and left the UK Champion a long red.
In the second, Dumbarton’s Campbell created the first chance but broke down on 23, to allow the Chinese number one to counter with a break of 54. A few minutes later Ding forced another opening and opened up a 2-0 lead, which so far no player has managed to turn around.
Campbell was no exception. He potted an opening long red but the anticipated kiss on the black pushed it slightly nearer the cushion than he had hoped. Instead of the planned straight forward pot, the Scot was faced with the thinnest of cuts to the corner pocket which he over compensated for, missing the object ball completely and allowing Ding back in.
Ding failed to win the match at this visit, but after a prolonged bout of tactical play, he forced the opening that he needed to make a break of 48 and take the match and become the first player through to the quarter final.
He will await to see who he plays when the draw is done tomorrow, but one thing is for sure, in this kind of form, Ding will be one that the other seven players will be happy to see someone else take on.
