Welsh Open 2012 (the final) - China's Ding victorious in Wales

Ding Junhui, the 2012 Welsh Open champion

Ding Junhui beat Mark Selby by 9-6 to win his first ever Welsh Open title. 

The Chinese player ended the first session leading Selby 5-3 and continued to have an impeccable run during the second one to lift the rocky trophy.

It was 2009 when Ding was winning his second UK Championship title but since then, besides the 2011 Masters title it was all quiet for China's snooker star. All too quiet one must say, so after three years the player nicknamed "The Chinese Sensation" decided to took another ranking title under his belt.

As the second session started, Mark Selby used a great 73 break to reduce the gap at just one point and trail 5-4, but Ding wasn't very fond of it. So 83 points later the Chinese player was reinstalling the two-frame difference.

One more try from the Leicester player was materialised in a 91 break, but just like before Ding replayed with an 124 (his first century of the match actually) for a 7-5 lead.

A great 130 clearance was sending the Asian player just one away from victory, while Selby performed a superb 145 clearance to pull back a frame and hit the highest break of the tournament, overcoming Matthew Stevens' 141.

Mark Selby, the 2012 Welsh Open runner-up

Still, a big break doesn't win you a competition, not in this case at least, Ding taking his chances during the next frame to close the deal. It was a pretty long and tactical battle, only normal in this situation, that Ding prevailed with just a top break of 42.

"The Chinese Sensation" rose both of his fists up in the air, while his face was betraying him maybe for the first time in his career as a professional. He was very nervous and in a highly emotional state.

Ironically or not, Ding was actually the one who knocked down the defending champion of last year Welsh Open John Higgins but back then little did we know we will take his place.

A great victory that guarantees Ding a cheque of £30,000, no less than 5,000 ranking points and a lot of confidence in his playing for the next tournaments to come.