A MAGNIFICENT final clearance of 57 saw reigning champion Ding Junhui edge past Ryan Day to reach the last 16 of snooker's Maplin UK Championship in York.

The Chinese teenager came through a tough test against the Welsh potter 9-7, pinching the final frame by a single point, to set up a mouth-watering clash with Matthew Stevens in the third round today.

Afterwards, Ding admitted his gruelling schedule, which only saw him arrive in York at midnight on Friday after winning triple gold at the Asian Games in Qatar, had taken its toll in the early stages of the match.

The pair returned to the Barbican Centre for the second session yesterday locked at 4-4, and swapped frames in a superb session of snooker. Four consecutive frames went to the final black - and twice Ding trailed at 6-5 and 7-6.

But the 19-year-old showed why he's the UK champion, and the number one seed, making gritty clearances on both occasions he was behind to tie at 7-7 before finally edging ahead.

Day had looked set to take the match to a deciding frame after firing 62 in the 16th, but ran out of position and missed a tricky pot into the middle pocket.

Ding then sank a fabulous opening red before making his final clearance to take the match. "I felt very tired during the match as I didn't get here until midnight on Friday and I've had no rest," he said through an interpreter.

"I was very worried about the game because my form at the Asian Games was not that stable. I was worried at the beginning but now I'm feeling very happy. My confidence is growing now.

"It was a good decision to go for that difficult red in the last frame. I felt a lot of pressure when I was clearing up so I feel very happy to have won."

And thoughts of successfully defending his crown have not yet entered Ding's mind. "I've not thought about winning the tournament, I just want to win every game," he said.

Fourth seed Ken Doherty crushed Mike Dunn 9-1 to force a third round clash with Joe Perry. Leading 7-1 overnight, Doherty - the provisional world number one - took just 22 minutes to mop up Dunn, thanks to breaks of 87 and 58.

Doherty said: "It was very comfortable out there and I am very pleased with the win. I settled in quickly (on Saturday) and played some decent stuff.

"I just hope I can be a little bit more consistent. I do prefer these longer matches. This is a tournament I would really like to win. Of the top players, most of them have won (the UK).

"I've lost in the final of this event three times. I call myself the ultimate penultimate."

Scottish star John Higgins got off to a flying start in his match against Stephen Lee, mopping up the first four frames.

Peter Ebdon took the early initiative against Stuart Bingham to lead 3-1.