China’s snooker hero Ding Junhui capped a remarkable season by winning the China Open in Beijing last night – beating defending champion and world number one Neil Robertson 10-5 in the final. Having previously won this event in 2005, Junhui moved into sixth on the all-time list for ranking title wins with 11 and equaled Scotland great Stephen Hendry’s record of five ranking title wins in a single season.
Having started the year ranked 10th, Junhui’s win in Beijing moves him up to second and he will now be eying his own place in the history books at the season ending Snooker World Championships starting in England on 17 April.
The Formula 1 season rolled through Bahrain at the weekend with Mercedes again dominating. Lewis Hamilton made it two wins in a row following his success in Malaysia last week, while Nico Rosberg maintained his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship with another runner-up finish. Sergio Perez finished third for Force India to give the team just its second ever podium and its first in five years while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth after his 10-spot grid penalty saw him start the race in 13th.
The T20 Cricket World Cup came to a thrilling conclusion in Bangladesh with Sri Lanka upsetting India in the final to claim their first T20 title. Some tight bowling restricted India to 4/130 from their 20 overs – that figure bolstered by Virat Kohli’s 77 – and after a slow start to their innings, veteran Kumar Sangakkara led Sri Lanka to victory with an unbeaten 52.
It was business as usual at the top of the English Premier League with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all recording wins, but Arsenal’s long love affair with the UEFA Champions League is on shaky ground after they were thrashed 3-0 by Everton at Goodison Park. The Toffees are now a great chance of snatching the final Champions League spot, sitting just one point behind the Gunners with a game in hand.
And Australian Matt Jones produced a stunning 42-yard chip on the first playoff hole at the Houston Open to score his first PGA Tour win, beating out Matt Kuchar to book his spot at next week’s US Masters. Jones started the final day six shots off the pace but shot a final round 66 to steal victory and collect a very handy US$1.2 million payday.
