International Championship snooker 2024 final as it happened – Ding Junhui defeats Chris Wakelin to claim glory
Updated 10/11/2024 at 15:52 GMT
Who will be crowned winner of the 2024 International Championship? The tournament has seen some of snooker's finest players battle it out for a prize of £175,000, and it comes down to Chris Wakelin against Ding Junhui in a best-of-19 encounter played over two sessions. The first session starts at 06:00, with Ding and Wakelin playing to a conclusion from 11:30.
'It's a gigantic one!' - Massive fluke by Ding in semi-final
Video credit: TNT Sports
OTHERWISE, THOUGH, THANKS ALL FOR YOUR COMPANY
See you tomorrow!
but of course you want more snooker
We got you! Join us again tomorrow at 12.30pm GM for the Champion of Champions – now featuring Ding, who'll play Judd trump on Wednesday. Bring it on!
THAT, THEN, IS THAT
We're over.
DING TAKES THE WINNER'S VASE
Garland around his neck, and poses for snaps. I'd hoped for an interview, but we're not getting one I don't think. Still, a 15th ranking title is his, and on behalf of us all, I'll settle for that.
CHRIS ACCEPTS THE RUNNERS-UP PLATE
I've said it before but I'll say it again: he's earnt that arse out of that and I can't wait to see where he goes from here.
DING LOOKS ON THE VERGE OF TEARS
Who wouldn't be.
IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE DING WIN
I guess we've all watched him grow up, dealing with the pressure of talent and living somewhere very different to what he was used to. We remember him crying when losing to Ronnie, his inability to win the Worlds and his struggles with form, so watching him celebrate this win with his young kids and in front of his home crowd is a buzz to behold.
DING JUNHUI BEATS CHRIS WAKELIN 10-7 TO WIN THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Ding wins at home, breaking a five-year duck and winning an excellent final. Biggup Chris, who had a glorious week and is now in the world top 16, but Ding was too good and is running into form at a great time. Class is permanent!
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (81-31)
Ding escapes snookers, inadvertently laying one of his own ... and Chris concedes!
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (81-31)
Ding pots the black, securing his first title since the 2019 UK Championship. How on earth has it been that long? Well I guess there are many many brilliant players striving for the same thing, but still. He can't drain the final red so Chris returns to the table hoping for a free ball, but he knows as we all do: it's over.
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (74-31)
The last three reds are trickier, but Ding won't need the one on black cush. Chris, meanwhile, will reflect on a fantastic week for him as he establishes hiself among the elite ... but back to the now, a rtight cut-back to left corner for the title ... and Ding strokes it home! Barring two snookers to tie, he's the champion!
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (42-31)
Ding sinks a black, just about, and this feels exceedingly over.
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (25-31)
Chris runs out of position so plays safe, but has he left a plant? Ding has a look and it's not dead-on but it is there if he hits the right spot on the first red. He thinks, measures, goes ... hits the knuckle ... and somehow it drops! Chris will be recalling the ball he sent to the opposite corner that stayed out and we see him shaking his heed; second chance for Ding to finish it.
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (17-0)
Playing safe, Ding cannons a red, plants the black, and what a chance this is for Chris! Loads of free reds and black passing to both corners! Can he hold it down?
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (17-0)
Ooh, Ding winds up in the pack, just about on the black, bridging awkwardly; he pokes it towards the corner, the crowd think it's in ... but it stays out! We're back playing safety and Chris is still in the match!
DING 9-7 WAKELIN (8-0)
Roars from the crowd as Ding eases a starter to left-middle, nuzzling the pack in the process; he's about the black spot, balls open, and this is his first chance to seal the title. Chris will be fearing the worst.
DING 9-7 WAKELIN
Chris pots a couple of balls but concedes as soon as he misses. Ding is one away!
DING 8-7 WAKELIN (72-0)
Ding runs out of position so plays safe, a run of 72 leaving Chris needing two snookers.
DING 8-7 WAKELIN (48-0)
It's easy for Ding now, the black passing to both corners and claret all over the show. Barring disaster, he's going one away.
DING 8-7 WAKELIN (27-0)
Ding builds, a red to middle keeping him going, he then breaks the pack and this is now a proper chance.
DING 8-7 WAKELIN (5-0)
Left in a tricky spot, Chris plays a roll-up off the rail, Ding forced to deploy the spider and catching red then brown en route back to baulk; Chris, though, can't sink the starter he's left to the corner, allowing Ding to get away. The balls are mainly still clustered, but there are a few loose ones to remove first up.
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‘What a tremendous break’ – Ding misses out on magical century to edge closer to title
Video credit: TNT Sports
DING 8-7 WAKELIN
Had Chris lost this frame, he'd have been done for - especially given how long it was, over half an hpir. But he won it, and the trophy remains in the balance.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (34-68)
And it's Chris! He slots yellow to middle, leaving Ding needing a snooker – if he can get back to the table. Which he won't, green and brown disappearing. Massive frame to win.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (34-59)
Second time he hits, but Ding then sinks the pot, moving from brown to yellow ... but not getting position, the ball in question still near the side. So he plays safe, leaving it pinned to the cushion while laying a snooker; Chris escapes well, and the sense is that whoever pots next will take the frame.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (29-59)
Ding seds a red to the green bag, Chris sat right there hating it. The last one is near the side and with the yellow nearby; I smell a snooker, and here it is. It's a stinker too – Ding's touch is so soft, so he's right up against it. He gets close too, but slides by so is put back.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (6-59)
Chris looks to drop in a red with the rest ... or does he? He plays it much harder than necessary, the ball doesn't come close to going down, leaving Ding a chance to close the gap, perhaps more. Pressure! Tension!
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (5-59)
And he does, a double maintaining the run; the lead is 54 with 59 left, so Chris plays safe in good heart.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (5-35)
Again, Chris wins a safety exchange, his lead looking useful given the way the balls are. And when Ding misses to left corner, undercutting, Chris has a chance to further increase the lead.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (1-26)
Ding misses a red and Chris does not, but this is now a complex frame, balls in difficult positions. We could be here some time.
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (1-25)
Trying a long red to the yellow, Chris can't get it disappeared ... but doesn't leave it. This is very tense now; good!
DING 8-6 WAKELIN (1-13)
Nice starter from Chris, a red clipped into right-middle, and though pink and black are tied up, liberating both looks possible. UNTIL HE MISSES A RED TO LEFT CORNER! I didn't see that coming and Ding now has one that looks like it passes to right ... and it does! He powers it down, the crowd roar their approval, and he's on a pink that'll open the reds! Except he misses the pot! Now then!
DING 8-6 WAKELIN
He promotes the brown but can't send it down; no ton, but he'll not mind that. He's two frames away from another home title.
DING 7-6 WAKELIN (99-6)
Frame secure, Ding is now ton-hunting. But he'll need a good cannon to remove the final red from the side ... he gets it, sends long to the green bag, and this has been a fantastic, controlled and patient break.
DING 7-6 WAKELIN (55-6)
Watching Ding accumulate, Chris knows he can't afford many more errors, because this break looks likely to settle the frame. However! Faced with a pink, potting which will necessarily send balls all over, he takes time to think, slots it nice and controlled ... and the frame will surely be his.
DING 7-6 WAKELIN (34-6)
Ding builds a lead but the reds aren't easy, most blocking each other; luckily for him, there are few better at navigating a route through them.
DING 7-6 WAKELIN (9-6)
Chris again wins the safety battle, clipping a lovely starter from middle to corner. But straight on the brown, he opts for power in an effort to get on the next ball – he's going for it! - and you can presumably guess the rest: he misses the pot and leaves one for Ding. This could be a crucial visit.
DING 7-6 WAKELIN (8-5)
It's worth noting that to reach this stage, Chris has beaten Shaun Murphy, Mark J Williams and John Higgins, eight world titles between them, and a decent safety snookers Ding behind the yellow; he foul-misses then, going again, the white seems to speed up at the last, tucking in behind that same yellow; Chris grins ruefully and escapes well second go.
for the last time
We go again.
DING 7-6 WAKELIN
Hold tight Chris Wakelin! An 89 means the gap is back down to one and, after losing the first two frames of the evening, he's hauled his way back into contention. Massive stones. We'll be back in 15.
DING 7-5 WAKELIN (3-77)
A pink to left corner means one more red to leave Ding needing snookers, and Chris slots coolly to right; we've got ourselves a final.
DING 7-5 WAKELIN (3-41)
Chris crafts, eliminating stray reds and, as Fergal notes, relaxing into the session. If he can see this out, he'll feel properly back in the match, but there's plenty work to be done between now and then ... and he's doing it, breaking pack off pink to leave the frame at his mercy.
DING 7-5 WAKELIN (3-12)
A safety battle, won by Chris, and though the table isn't inviting, there are points there to be had.
DING 7-5 WAKELIN (3-0)
Chris takes on a red to left corner as shot to nothing, making the pot harder – but at this stage, you can understand why safety was more important than success. He then escapes when a poor safety doesn't leave anything, but he's fighting himself here.
DING 7-5 WAKELIN (3-0)
The obviously pro-Ding crowd give Chris a generous welcome-back when he returns to the arena, but his break immediately releases any pressure Ding was under, offering a starter to left corner which is sent down nicely. A yellow, though, is all he can add, Ding underhitting the pot so not coming far enough for the next ball; end of break and relief for Chris.
DING 7-5 WAKELIN
Well done Christopher Wakelin! A run of 84 is more than enough to win his first frame in seven, and do we got ourselves a ball-game?!
DING 7-4 WAKELIN (0-51)
This fantastic behaviour from Chris, calmly removing balls, but can he finish it off? He sighs as a pink makes the next red harder – out comes the rest – and down itt goes. The frame will surely now be his.
DING 7-4 WAKELIN (0-28)
Chris attacks a pink knowing he's leaving plenty if he misses ... and he sinks it superbly. Well done sir, well done. A red with the rest follows, and he's back in prime position. The frame is there for him.
DING 7-4 WAKELIN (0-12)
Ding misses to left corner and Chris gets away to right; this is another colossal visit, balls spread well enough if he can work out the best route through them.
DING 7-4 WAKELIN
Six frames in a row from 1-4 down, and Ding is looking good; Chris less so.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (77-30)
Oh Chris. Oh mate. He caresses a red on black cush, taping in behind it from above to send it towards right corner ... and somehow, a pocket that's been notably receptive all week, chooses this moment to spit one out. Ding will now make the frame safe, and the match is his to lose.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (64-15)
BUT HAVE A LOOK! Chris takes a terrific red from middle to corner - Ding's safety was not up to standard – and what a chance this is for him to close the gap!
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (64-14)
Chris goes at one to right corner, he's miles off, and leaves a mid-distance diagonal to left corner. It's a cut from right side to left corner, but Ding is so gooat these and he plays it nicely; the crowd love it. He's not on a colour, though, so it's a safety with the frame still in the balance – though Chris isn't exuding clearup vibes.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (63-14)
Ahahahaha, of course! Ding rifles blue to middle ... then snookers himself on his intended next red! End of break, the lead 49 with 59 left.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (58-14)
As Fergal notes in comms, it's only Ronnie whose cue-ball control is as good as Ding's, ands he navigates the table with all his usual expertise and finesse. He'll need one more bump into what's left of the cluster ... and look at that, a red to middle, the balls spreading, and colour-red-colour will leave chris needing snookers.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (20-14)
Luscious shot from Ding, black to right corner, delayed backspin taking the white into the pack, and to a potter of his magnificence, this is now a serious chance to take the frame. Chris will be feeling this slipping away.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (4-14)
Ding has a look at a plant, I think decides there isn't one, phas a shiy at it anyway as a shot to nothing, and leaves a diagonal mid-distance starter that Chris sinks nicely. This is a massive visit and, as I type, he takes on a pot not dissimilar to his opener ... and misses it by a way. Chance for Ding!
DING 6-4 WAKELIN (0-0)
A tactical start to frame 11, playing in and out of baulk, but then Chris takes one on to left-centre, Ding's pokanned cover not working out ... and misses, narrowly. He leaves nowt, but, so back around we go.
DING 6-4 WAKELIN
Trouble for Chris; he needs six before Ding gets four.
DING 5-4 WAKELIN (61-17)
Ding secures the frame. It's only a lead of two, but this is five on the spin and momentum seems inexorable.
DING 5-4 WAKELIN (37-17)
Ding's looking ominously good now and let it not be forgotten, he's not just playing for this title but for entry into the Champion of Champions which begins tomorrow. Anyroad, after picking at loose balls, one to middle a particular highlight, he gets the reds apart nicely ... but is he on one? Just! A plant to middle, what a stroke! He knucks it home nicely, and the frame is at his mercy.
DING 5-4 WAKELIN (7-17)
Well it won't be his at this visit; he undercuts a black to right corner, it stays there so that now it's Ding with the insurance, and if he gets a decent split when the time comes, he'll have a decent shot at making it 6-4.
DING 5-4 WAKELIN (0-8)
With no obvious safety option, Ding goes at one to left corner, doesn't get close, and Chris, after a think, slots a starter to right corner – that was very confidently and competently stuck away. The table isn't ideal, but there are three reds lose down the table, so insurance should things go wrong - and you get the feeling he needs to take this frame if he's to win here.
our boyz baize
Chris waves to the crowd, enjoying the moment – he's taken his career to an entirely different level the last year, and will now be seeded at the UK Championships. Good on yer old mate. And here comes Ding, the crowd giving him a proper welcome. AND OFF WE GO!
WE GO AGAIN
DING 5-4 WAKELIN
Ding strikes what may well be a telling blow. The better player has come from 1-4 down to lead, and it's hard to see Chris coming back from here. But there's so much pressure on Ding in front of his home crowd and we've seen him give up a big final lead before. Join us again at 11.30am GMT for the remainder of what's already a jazzer of a final.
DING 4-4 WAKELIN (57-42)
...and he sinks the pot! And he develops the red! But not quite enough to point it in the middle, so it's a brute to the yellow bag. Here it comes ... and it bounces out of the jaws! Reprieve for Chris! Can he cut in an opener? He cannot! And he's left it over the hole! Chris is feeling it! Ding will surely clear now!
DING 4-4 WAKELIN (50-42)
Eeesh, with the scores level, Ding works his way on to one of the less difficult reds, and will try and cut it back into a blind left-corner bag ... and he strokes it home! A pink follows, that takes him on to black cush, and has he got any kind of angle to get on to the next ball? Not really. He drops it in, but the cut-back black, which should allow him at the final red, is not easy – at all...
DING 4-4 WAKELIN (28-42)
The balls aren't easy – there's a red on the side and another on the top – but Ding's cueing nicely now and the way this session is going, you expect him to find a way of taking the frame from here.
DING 4-4 WAKELIN (8-42)
Aaaaarrrggghhh! A phone that sounds like a PA goes off, Chris breaks the pack to send a cut-back towards right corner .... and leaches a red in the jaws! Chance for Ding who, from nowhere, might now seize the lead!
DING 4-4 WAKELIN
What a turnaround from Ding. Indeed, he potted the last remaining red with aplomb from distance and didn't look back.
He's finding the middle pockets really well - makes absolutely no mistake to clear the table and take the frame from Wakelin's grasp.
From 4-1 down, Ding has found parity with one frame to go in the session. A crucial, crucial comeback.
DING 20-53 WAKELIN
This feels like quite a significant moment, just one red and the colours on the table, and whoever can take charge here will likely take the frame. Ding up to the baize...
DING 8-53 WAKELIN
Ding can only build a run of eight as an increasingly resurgent Wakelin steps back up, and delivers a stunning four-ball plant to open up the table.
He's left his potting woes firmly behind him and is looking really confident among the balls. A nice green, another plant for a red, before smacking home the black to middle left.
He posts another 26, and it's looking like a safety battle will ensue.
DING 0-27 WAKELIN
The Englishman finally back among the points.
He finally broke away after the pair spurned some early reds, and worked his way around the table nicely.
Wakelin, however, came unstuck as a long red reverberated between the jaws of the bottom right. Though he nearly had his blushes spared by what would have been a remarkable fluke - the red came back with interest and cannoned off the brown heading towards the top left.
However, it simply hangs over the pocket as Ding is back among the balls, an easy red at his mercy.
DING 3-4 WAKELIN
An accomplished frame from Ding, who would love to restore parity ahead of what will clearly be a decisive later session.
He knocks in a fantastic break of 80, wooing the crowd with yet another stylish plant before the black comes crashing off the jaws of the bottom left to bring his run to an end.
Just one frame behind now, with two left to play in the morning session. Wakelin has not potted since establishing his 4-1 lead. All to play for.
WELCOME IN!
Good morning, and happy Sunday all!
Thank you for joining us. From here on in, we will be bringing you every moment of the action as Chris Wakelin leads Ding Junhui 4-2 at the International Championship final.
Which way will this go? The Englishman has enjoyed a remarkable week, and he currently stands in good stead to win his second world title ranking event.
Stay tuned.
International championship snooker schedule
Sunday, November 10
6:00am + 11:30am
Chris Wakelin v Ding Junhui
Watch and stream the International Championship live on Eurosport and discovery+
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