DING RINGS ROCKET’S BELL IN WHITEWASH SHOCKER

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN saw his bid for an eighth UK Championship success ended by Ding Junhui in a 6-0 whitewash.

It marked the first time the world No.1 has ever been kept off the scoreboard in the sport’s three major tournaments.

The reigning world champion (far right) tried to shrug off the unprecedented nature of the quarter-final defeat and heaped praise on world No.38 Ding (below). The Rocket said: “Today was one of those days. I have been at this game for 30 years and taken a few knocks.

“Ding played fantastically well, and I wish he could play like that more. I’d like to see him go and win it now, and I told him that afterwards. He is ranked where he is because he struggles at some of these leisure centre venues. If you put a class player on table eight in a car park with three people watching, that’s what you get.” Former world No.1 Ding, 35, said: “I am very surprised by the scoreline. Even at 3-0 and 4-0 up against Ronnie, you expect him to come back strongly.”

Ding’s semi-final opponent today will be world No.32 Tom Ford, after he beat Joe Perry 6-4 to get to the last four at the UK for a second time.

The Leicester pro has been working with a sports psychologist and held himself together to close it out after missing match ball to win 6-3.