Ding Junhui makes early exit from Northern Ireland Open

Updated 16/11/2016 at 09:49 GMT

Ding Junhui made a shock exit from the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday after he was beaten in the first round by compatriot Yu De Lu of China.

Ding Junhui in Shanghai

Image credit: Imago

The world no.4 had been a favourite to lift the trophy in Belfast, and took an early lead in the first round game.

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Yu, ranked 62 in the world, fell behind in the first two frames after Ding made string breaks of 71 and 68, scoring 130 in the second frame.

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However, Yu mounted an epic comeback to cause a huge upset at the Titanic Exhibition centre as he went on to win the next three, scoring a century in the fifth frame with a break of 104.

Yu De Lu pulled off a stunning coup against Ding Junhui on Tuesday.

Image credit: Imago

With just a frame away from recording his first progression beyond the first round of a ranking tournament so far this season, Yu pipped Ding to the post despite fluffing his lines to allow Ding back into the game after a break of 67.

But Ding could not find his earlier form and gave the frame back to Yu after scoring just 45, effectively handing him victory.