China's top player Ding Junhui Monday faced Brandon Sargeant from England in qualifying at the China championship in Guangzhou. Ding has not been at his best in recent months, and this will be his fourth appearance at this tournament where his best result was reaching the last 32.    

Ding Junhui's opponent Sargeant, who was born in 1997 and is 10 years younger than Ding Junhui, has just started his professional season. It was a postponed qualifying match. Normally in the matches played in China, Ding's qualifying match will be held during the race.  

Ding won the first frame and never looks back, but he takes a good gander of the cue ball after sinking that red. 22-year-old Sargeant is out of his league against Ding, who's won 13 ranking titles. But Ding doesn't play up to that level as he only has one break over 50 points.     

Ding's last clean break was against Totten 4-0 at the Welsh open in February, and his last clean break in five or more of nine was against Bond 5-0 at the German masters qualifying tournament in December. It was a long-lost comprehensive win for him. 

"I didn't behave well today either." Despite the quick win, Ding Junhui was not satisfied with his performance. "Sargeant's frame was favorable, almost no errors. But his overall performance was average. He needs more efforts and struggle.”   

The 32-year-old Chinese has not won a title during the last two years, but blanked Sargeant 5-0 and would face compatriot Zhao Xintong on Tuesday night. "I don't really want to run into him. I want Chinese players to advance to the last 16 or eight in their own half," said Ding.