Ding Junhui struggls to beat Michael Holt 5-4

Ding Junhui, the most popular snooker player in China, struggled to beat Michael Holt 5-4 in 2013 Snooker Haikou World Open on Wednesday.

Being eliminated in the first round at Haikou last year, Ding came back to Haikou for his first victory in the tournament. In the first round this year, Ding moved on to the game against Michael Holt, who is very good in offensive tactics.

At the beginning of the first session, Holt made too many mistakes and enabling Ding scoring 76 and 95 points to win the first two frames and get a leg up in against his opponent.

In the third and fourth frames, Holt began to find his cue back, who capitalized on his opponent's mistake and won the two frames.

By sharing the first four frames in the first half, Ding got 62 points in the fifth frame with two shot and go 3-2 up. But the mistaks let Ding to lose the sixth frame 65-18.

In the last three frames, Holt scored 99 points to win the eighth, but Ding left no chance to Holt again, who got 87 and 70 points with two shot in seventh and ninth respectively to win the match finally.

"I did not adjust my state and made so many mistake in the match today. Holt also played quite well, but I had the luck on my side, that's why I could win the game."

In the next round, Ding will face the challenge of the winner between Marco Fu and Mark Williams.

In another match, Barry Hawkins rolled over Ian Burns 5-1.