Ding Junhui suffers third successive first-round exit

China's Ding Junhui competes during his first round match against England's Shaun Murphyon day three of the Masters Snooker tournament at Alexandra Palace in London on Jan 14, 2014. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Fourth seed Ding Junhui wasted a 4- 2 lead to fall 6-4 against former world champion Shaun Murphy at the first round of snooker Masters at the Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.

The Chinese star has never won a match after becoming the first champion from Asia in 2011 by beating Hong Kong's Marco Fu in the finals.

He lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-4 in 2012 and 6-5 to Neil Robertson last year, both in the first round.

Ding led 2-0 and 4-2 in a match that was delayed by a power cut for 80 minutes.

"I did not play after the UK Championship in December. If you don't play for some time, you cannot keep good form," said the 26- year-old Ding.

"I have a lot of chances, but I wasted them all," he said.