UK Championship snooker: Ding Junhui begins title quest with battling win, Ricky Walden edges Marco Fu

Ding Junhui began his quest for a fourth UK Championship title with a 6-4 win over Daniel Wells at Leicester’s Morningside Arena on Monday night.

The 2005, 2009 and 2019 UK winner will face Robbie Williams for a spot in the last 32 at the York Barbican after Williams defeated 2003 UK champion Matthew Stevens 6-5 on the final black.

Ricky Walden also reached the final qualifying round with a 6-5 triumph against three-time ranking event winner Marco Fu, who rolled in breaks of 97, 80, 75, 80 and 57 to force the decider from 5-3 behind.