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Ding, Fu set up Chinese derby in Snooker Masters final

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-16 15:12

LONDON - Chinese talented cueman Ding Junhui saw off Jamie Cope 6-3 on Saturday to set up a Chinese derby with Marco Fu from Hong Kong in the final at the Snooker Masters.

Ding, 23, kept his sharpness all along just as he did when he won over veterans Mark Williams and Graeme Dott earlier this week. The two-time UK Championships winner led 3-1 before the interval, then reached the final for the second time at the most prestigious invitation event with a convincing 6-3 victory.

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"I played ok," said a delighted but still calm Ding after the match. "At some points, I didn't deal with the balls with the reasonable solutions. I hope I could avoid the same mistakes tomorrow."

Ding is going to meet Fu in the final on Sunday as the seasoned player came from 1-4 down to knock out Mark Allen earlier on Saturday, reaching the final at Wembley Arena for the first time.

"I think it's special," Ding talked about the all-Chinese final. "It's the first time that I meet a countryman in a final of top-class event. I think it will be good and interesting."

Ding advanced into the final at Wembley Arena in 2007, but lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan.