Ding Junhui makes very high break in Tibetan defeat

Ding Junhui made a maximum break at altitude in an exhibition match against Mark Selby in Tibet, but it was the Englishman who won by 13-9.

The pair, who contested the 2016 World Championship Final in Sheffield when Selby won 18-14, played over three days at an altitude of over 3,000 feet for a prize fund of £200,000.

The score after the first day of the 2019 Tibet Snooker Peak Showdown was 4-4, but Selby had much the better of their exchanges on day two – racing to a 10-6 advantage.

On the final day, the Chinese star pulled back to within three frames of Selby immediately with a century break in frame 17. Selby then moved to within one frame of victory with the next two before a 50-break from Ding saw him keep it alive by sneaking a tight 20th frame.

Then came his immaculate 147 in the 21st to bring the packed house down but Selby then finished off the match by taking the next for a 13-9 scoreline.

The Jester from Leicester therefore took the £120,000 winners prize with Ding able to console himself with £80,000 for finishing as the runner-up.

Selby will next play at the Shanghai Masters while Ding will participate in the 6 Red Globe World Championships in Thailand at the beginning of next month.

Both men will be targeting their third UK Championship title when the first ‘major’ of the season is played in York in December with Selby 8.00 to win and Ding available at 17.00.