Ding takes cues from home crowd

"In today's match, I focused on keeping my rhythm and tightening up my defense, looking for any opportunity to gain the upper hand," Ding said.

The International Championship, held from Nov 3 to 10, offered a total prize purse of 825,000 pounds ($1.06 million). China provided three of the top four finishers in Nanjing, after some exceptional performances from homegrown talent. The defending champion was Chinese player Zhang Anda.

Ding said that he was energized by the passionate support of the crowd. Born in Yixing, Jiangsu province, Ding said that whenever he competes in China, every venue feels like home. "The fans here always back the Chinese players, and I really felt that support today. I'm thrilled to have such strong backing."

"I tried to stay focused on the match," he added. "External factors can be helpful, but ultimately, the key is to concentrate on each shot — that's the only way to play at your best."

The victory marked Ding's second International Championship title, netting him a bonus of 175,000 pounds.

Ding's last title came at the 2019 UK Championship, where he defeated Stephen Maguire 10-6. Nearly five years and three finals later, he faced tough losses to Mark Allen in the 2022 UK Championship, Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2023 UK Championship, and Judd Trump at the 2024 World Open.

With this latest victory, Ding has climbed to No 8 in the world rankings, reaffirming his place among snooker's elite.

Reflecting on his journey, Ding said, "There were times over the past five years when I played well, but I often lost early. I didn't have a consistent run to the quarterfinals or semifinals, so it was either an early exit or going all the way. That's been the story of most of my career."

Smiling, he added: "It hasn't just been tough for me; my fans have gone through it all with me. They've stuck by me through every high and low. I made it through — and so did they."

Dong Hao, director of the Nanjing Sports Bureau, noted that the tournament not only showcased Chinese snooker, but also provided a significant opportunity for Nanjing's sports development to gain international attention.

"In recent years, Nanjing has strengthened its ties with international sports organizations, successfully hosting a number of major global events. This ancient, yet modern, city is accelerating its growth and development through sports," Dong said.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn