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Ding: Chinese players will dominate

ESPN staff
September 23, 2013
The Shanghai Masters was the first ranking final to feature two players from China © Getty Images
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Following victory in the first ranking tournament final to feature two players from China, Ding Junhui has issued a warning that his fellow countrymen will go on to dominate world snooker.

Ding enjoyed a historic 10-6 triumph over compatriot Xiao Guodong to claim the Shanghai Masters on Sunday and earn the seventh ranking title of his career.

The two-time UK champion knocked out Shaun Murphy, world no. 1 Neil Robertson and world championship runner-Barry Hawkins in front of his home crowd on his way to earning the £80,000 first prize.

Ding hopes his success will inspire a younger generation of players and also indicated other Chinese players on the tour have the ability to become future champions.

"It was incredible to have two players from my country in a ranking final for the first time," Ding said. "But I believe this is going to happen more in the future.

"I hope what has happened here will be an inspiration to other Chinese players, professionals and young kids. The ones already based in the UK need time and experience on tour, and they can make it.

"I beat Marco Fu in the Masters final, but that was not a ranking tournament and it wasn't in China, so this feels special."

This was Ding's second victory in China following success at the 2005 China Open and the 26-year-old has now moved up to seventh in the world rankings.

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