Ding delivers with PTC prize

Ding Junhui has clicked into gear at the perfect time.

With major honours of the UK Championships and The Masters on the horizon, China's number one is just beginning to rediscover his finest form.

It's not been plain sailing so far this season for Ding, but this week has certainly been one to remember. On Thursday night he served up arguably the most complete showing of any player so far in this year's Premier League with an impressive 4-2 against Mark Selby in Brentwood.

Then returning to his hometwon Sheffield for the weekend, he lifted the PTC5 crown with yet more great snooker.

He beat Wales' unranked Jamie Jones 4-1 in the final, who adds his name to a clutch of the game's lesser stars who have used the PTC competition as a fast-track route to the limelight of the sport.

This weekend will easily rank among the 22-year-old's best in his career so far after wins against Ricky Walden, Martin Gould, Patrick Wallace, Gerrard Greene, Liu Song and Patrick Einsle guided him to the final.

But Ding, who was terrific throughout the weekend, eventually stopped his fairytale.

The world number eight also beat Andrew Higginson, Dominic Dale, Stephen Lee, Peter Ebdon, Stuart Bingham and Tony Drago on route to his triumph.

This win will mark the moment Ding kick starts his season in many people's eyes. And with the defence of his UK Championship title just around the corner, it couldn't be better timed. In this kind of form, he now looks a certainty to reach the business end of any major ranking event he enters, and will surely be installed as one of the favourites in Telford. He's shown this week the talent we all know he possesses, but just a little more resilience when he's not firing on all cylinders will help him drop his inconsistent tag.

The only disappointment for Ding is that despite this win, which sees him climb from 65th to a place in the top 24 of the in the Order of Merit list, he's still ineligible for the grand finals in March because he missed the first four tournaments in Sheffield.

And that for me, is where this rule is all wrong. We all know the only reason Ding didn't appear at the first few events is because of his struggles to renew his visa in time for the new season. After seeing him lift the PTC trophy in Sheffield at the first time of asking, I know the grand finals will miss him.

I really don't understand. If a player is good enough to acquire enough points but in fewer events than other players, why should they be punished?

Not only does Ding lift his first trophy of the season, but he also becomes the seventh different player to win a PTC event.

This just provides an even clearer ringing endorsement of the PTC programme,.

Once again it has shown why it's such a welcome addition. It is helping more players lift trophies, and keeping the competitiveness of the sport at the optimum level.