Ding's the daddy with third UK title

Ding Junhui ended a two-year title drought in stunning style on Sunday and immediately dedicated his return to snooker's top tier to his baby daughter.

The Chinese No 1, who became a father for the first time in August last year, won the prestigious UK Championship for a third time with a 10-6 victory over Scotland's Stephen Maguire in York.

Winning his first ranking event since 2017 propels Ding back into the world's top 10 (No 9), secures his place at January's Masters and raises expectations that the 32-year-old could finally end his wait for a maiden world title at the Crucible next year.

However, family was first and foremost in Ding's thoughts after pocketing a winner's check of 200,000 pounds ($263,000).

"My family give me support and take the pressure," said Ding, who lost his mother to cancer in 2017.

"I want to do my best for my daughter so that when she grows up she thinks that she has the best daddy.

"I was full of confidence the whole week, I had a very clear mind and I've also been in a very happy mood. I still want to win the world championship but this is also a big one.

"For the last two years people have doubted me, asking whether I would win again. Now I believe I can win more, and this is a good start."

Ding's previous UK triumphs came in 2005 and 2009, when as a youngster many had tipped him to go on and dominate the game.

However, that scenario failed to materialize and although the soft-spoken Sheffield-based player, who was born in Yixing, Jiangsu province, has won 14th ranking titles, just four of those were so-called Triple Crown events and the last before Sunday's win was at the 2011 Masters.

There had been little to cheer in 2019 for Ding either, with the Chinese potter suffering three first-round defeats this season.

However, he looked a different player in York and was cueing brilliantly as he accounted for defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and rising Chinese star Yan Bingtao on his way to the final.

In Sunday's decider, Ding led 5-3 after the first session and won the first two frames of the evening session. A break of 103 earned Maguire frame 11, but Ding countered to make it 8-4 at the interval.

Maguire fought back with 103 and 124 to close to 8-6, but missed a tough red to a center pocket in the next frame. Ding punished the Scot with 131 to go three up with four to play before completing his victory to a standing ovation with his fourth ton (103) of the final.

"I have had to wait a long time to lift a trophy again, and this is a big one," said Ding.

"It has been an amazing week and I have played fantastic snooker. It means everything to me. When Stephen came back to 8-6 he looked strong, but I stayed calm and waited for my chances."

Ding becomes the fifth player to win the UK Championship on three or more occasions, joining O'Sullivan (seven), Steve Davis (six), Stephen Hendry (five) and John Higgins (three).

Maguire paid tribute to Ding's superb break building, saying: "Every time you let him in he scores 100. I told him a couple of frames ago, 'It's not darts we're playing, it's snooker'."

Retired six-time world champion Davis, the man Ding beat to lift his first UK title 14 years ago, reckons the Chinese star could be celebrating Crucible glory next year.

"A lot of people had written Ding off for the world championship but that has been blown right open now," Davis told the BBC.

"I think Ding on his best form is a match for anybody in the world. He's a real headache for the top players."