Ding Junhui moved to the top of the 2011 PartyPoker.com Premier League table with a 3-1 win over Ali Carter in the week six final in Stoke-on-Trent.
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Having not won a match prior to the start of play last night, Ding began second from bottom, but his two wins mean he scoops six points, taking him onto 10 and clear at the top by one point.
Having earlier seen of crowd favourite Jimmy White in a last frame shoot-out, Ding made light work of Carter in the final.
It was Carter who got off to a flyer in the final however, taking the opener in emphatic style with break of 96.
Ding levelled up at 1-1 after clinching a scrappy second frame, but made ammends with a 45 to seal a close third 72-51 to move into the lead.
The world number four and Masters champion made sure of the win with a classy run of 66, confirming his place at the top as the battle play-off places hot up.
“I’m just pleased to be at the top of the table," said Ding. "This is a tricky format and it’s important to win your first match, but really I needed to win both games tonight and I did,” he added.
Carter, while disappointed at the final result, moves himself into the top half of the table with two events still to play, leaving himself strongly in contention for a play-off place in November.
He had earlier seen off an under-par Mark Williams 3-2 in a game of many chances; Williams missing out on a chance to lead the table himself.
Jimmy White picked up his first points of the season, but the 3-2 defeat may not be enough to keep in interested in terms of qualification, as he remains bottom of the league.
League action continues on October 20 in Exeter, featuring Ali Carter v Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson.
Premier League Snooker week six results:
Ali Carter 3-2 Mark Williams
Ding Junhui 3-2 Jimmy White
Final:
Ding Junhui 3-1 Ali Carter
