China's number one snooker player Ding Junhui showed an enviable ability to bounce back on Tuesday night with an inspiring 6-3 win over Northern Ireland's Mark Allen to storm into the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
The 31-year-old battled back from a 3-1 deficit, winning five frames in a row to clinch the comeback victory, and set up a meeting with world number one Mark Selby who survived a scare against Chinese youngster Zhou Yuelong before holding his nerve to win 6-5.
Reflecting on the hard-fought triumph, Ding said: "I didn't start well but I recovered in the second half and played a very aggressive game."
World number one Mark Selby beat Zhou Yuelong to set up a third round clash with Ding Junhui. /VCG Photo
"I managed to create chances with my long potting and put pressure on my opponent. It was single-visit snooker and I wasn't thinking too much during the game."
"So I succeeded in playing at a fast tempo," he added.
Elsewhere, former world champion Stuart Bingham out-lasted his compatriot Shaun Murphy by walkover while Englishman Barry Hawkins comfortably beat Scottish star Stephen Maguire 6-3.
World number eight Kyren Wilson, who beat Ding Junhui 8-4 in the final to win the SangSom Six Red World Championship last week, swept aside Judd Trump 6-2.