Ding Junhui's dream in Cruzburg will have to wait another year after all.
On the evening of April 17, Beijing time, Ding Junhui lost to Wafi 6-10, and suffered a round of swimming at the World Championships for the third consecutive year.
Many people may not have expected this outcome. Although Ding Junhui has been stumbling this season, he has also won the championship of the Six Red Ball World Championships and also qualified for the World Championships. When Ding Junhui embarks on another journey to realize his dream, it is difficult to set his end in the first round out - his condition is already warming up, not to mention that he has been swimming once in a row for two years, will he have to come for another year?
But in the end, regrettably, the title of "Ding Yi Round" was once again shouted in the comments of netizens. After leading 5-4 in the first stage, Ding Junhui lost 1-6 in the second stage. You say how good Wafei's performance is, it doesn't seem to be, but Ding Junhui's performance is extremely bad, more like a microcosm of him in recent years - continuous mistakes, can't set up poles, can't attack and can't score, can't defend ... When Ding Junhui lost the game, you and I even had an illusion: maybe this is a relief for him?
His pride as a prodigy and genius is gone, his pursuit and desire for championships is gone, all his spirit is gone. A man in his thirties, standing at the pool table, should be the best time to balance physical strength and experience, but Ding Junhui shows unprecedented fatigue, as if he is not chasing a championship, but going through a ordeal.
Let's take a look at a netizen's word. "Like a Dream: Out of the First Round of the World Championships" - At the April World Championships, Korburg went straight to 16. In the first round, Wafi met and missed all kinds of mistakes. Uncomfortable, uncomfortable, what a stinky ball.
For Ding Junhui's journey to the World Championships, this is basically a bottom. Let's review his achievements in recent years at the World Championships: runner-up in '16, semi-finalist in '17, quarter-finals in '18, 2nd round in '19, 2nd round in '20, 1st round in '21, 1st round in '22, 1st round in '23... A whole descending order. If you look at the score of the round of the past three years, in 21 it was 9-10 to Bingham, in 22 it was 8-10 to Kyren Wilson, in 23 it was 6-10 to Wafi, it is still regressing... Of course, such a comparison is meaningless, but as netizens said, "Like the decline of stocks, there is still room for regression." ”
As many people feel angry tonight, as many people have loved Ding Junhui deeply.
I can understand the heart-wrenching voices on social platforms, saying "never watch Ding Junhui compete again", "he will never win the World Championship", "where his desire to win has gone, there is no light in his eyes". They may have been the most faithful believers at dusk, accompanying Ding Junhui through one trough after another, and witnessing his return again and again. But this time, when Ding Junhui himself can't give his desire for Cruzburg and the dream of a Grand Slam, how can he let these people continue to follow?
After all, competitive sports are competitive sports, relying only on the glory of the past, after all, it cannot support long-term expectations. Even if you can accept mediocrity and regression, who can accept a person who is lifeless and hopeless?
Once upon a time, he was that billiards prodigy. The sparkle of the China Open, the brilliance of the British Championship, and the ranking of the number one in the world, which one does not give Chinese snooker fans hope? The Chinese snooker army is now so strong, thanks to Ding Junhui; There is so much base of Chinese snooker fans, and it is inseparable from Ding Junhui... Ding Junhui is like the flag-bearer carrying Chinese snooker forward, and he has played the future of Chinese snooker.
So, we like him and respect him. We have placed more hope in him, and we believe that he can do it. And now, maybe some people don't believe that Ding Junhui can come back, and some people still choose to believe him, but for Ding Junhui, it's really time to adjust his state and grab the bottom and rebound.
After all, he said, "I have not forgotten my dreams and efforts", but his efforts have not been seen, and his dreams are gradually drifting away... Ding Junhui, come on, don't let down those who love you.