Ding sails into second round

China’s Ding Junhui swept into the second round of snooker’s World Championship yesterday after completing a one-sided 10-2 win over Scotland’s Jamie Burnett.

Leading 8-1 overnight, the 24-year-old Sheffield-based player gave his opponent no chance of hitting back as he coasted into the second round where he will play either Peter Ebdon or Stuart Bingham.

Ding had two centuries in the match and completed his success with a break of 71.

“It feels all right, I’m playing quite well,” he said.

“I’m just concentrating on my game and trying to play my best.”

Ranked fourth in the world after his win in the Masters, Ding was knocked out in the first round on his World Championship debut in 2007, and has reached round two in the three subsequent years.

He knows his second-round match this year will not be easy.

“Everybody tries hard here so it will be quite a difficult match to get through,” he said. Hopefully I can win this (one day).

“It feels good here. I get support from the Chinese students and from the Sheffield supporters. How confident am I? I’m a favourite but I’m not favourite to win.

“It doesn’t matter how confident I am.”

Burnett said: “It was frustrating for me yesterday. Nothing seemed to happen.”

Other results: Carter bt Harold 10-3; Williams bt Day 10-5; Hendry bt Perry 10-9.