Ding tastes his UK Championship victory

Chinese snooker star Ding Junhui beat John Higgins 10-8 in the final of UK Championship, snooker’s second-biggest ranking event on Sunday night, and part of his prize was 69 kilos worth of sponsor’s pies.

Ding wrote on his blog after the win:

It really is a tough match. To me, playing with John is the hardest [compared with other players]. And this is the most tiring match I’ve played with him…

…thank you so much for supporting me by watching the game late at night. I’ll bring home some pies for you if I can.

Turns out that Ding decided to make better use of these pies by donating them all to Homeless and Rootless at Christmas, a Sheffield voluntary group which looks after homeless people over the festive period.

“I’ve lived in Sheffield for the past few years and I love the city,” said the 22-year-old. “The least I can do is try to help some of those less fortunate than me at Christmas by donating these pies – hopefully there are enough to stop people going hungry.”

Ding Junhui is up to sixth in the latest world rankings following his victory. Liang Wenbo, another Chinese player same age as Ding, reached the quarterfinals and moved up to the 12th place.

Links and Sources:

• The Times: Ding Junhui delights his nation by carrying off UK crown
• Yahoo Sports: Ding gives 276 pies to charity
• Ding Junhui’s blog

Photo: World Snooker