Limerick potter sinks Ding in UK

LEO FERNANDEZ shocked world No 3 Ding Junhui after beating him 6-5 in the first round the UK Championship yesterday.

The Limerick-born Fernandez had not won a match this season having returned to the tour in August after a 15-month ban after he admitted corruption charges.

Ding rattled off six breaks of more than 50 to lead 5-1 only for Fernandez to rally, eventually taking it to a decider with a break of 80 and sealing the win with a brilliant final pink.

The 41-year-old, who lives in England, has been struggling with a slipped disc in his back and said he was in a fair amount of pain during “the biggest win of his career”.

“When I was 5-1 down I was thinking about having to get the train home, but I hadn’t played badly,” he added.