D.O.B. 01 Apr 1987
Lives Sheffield
Turned Pro 2003
Ranking Tournament Victories Six - China Open 2005; UK Championship 2005, 2009; Northern Ireland Trophy 2006; Welsh Open 2012; PTC Grand Finals 2013
World Snooker Tour prize money 2010/11 + 2011/12 seasons (ranking events / PTCs only) £228,989
Highest Tournament Break 147 - four times
The 2011/12 season was a mixed one for Ding as he won his fifth ranking title but struggled for form in several of the other events.
The highlight for the Chinese ace came at the 888 Zhenren Welsh Open as he beat Mark Davis, John Higgins, Stephen Lee and Shaun Murphy to reach the final, then saw off Mark Selby 9-6 with a fine display of break-building.
It was his first full ranking title since 2009 and he has now won more ranking titles than all other Asian players put together.
"It feels great," said Ding, who has moved into a five-bedroom house in Sheffield with girlfriend Apple. "In practice I have been feeling good and playing like I was a few years ago.
"Apple has helped a lot because she looks after me, cooks for me and gives me time to practise every day. It's much better for me than before. I bought the house in Sheffield two days ago, I have just got the keys. I will put a snooker table in the garage so I can play on my own if I am not going to the Academy. I can park the car outside, the table is more important!"
He also got to the semi-finals of the China Open, losing to Peter Ebdon in Beijing, and the final of Players Tour Championship event two, losing to Judd Trump.
He tasted victory in two other events. Ding partnered Liang Wenbo to the top prize in the new PTT-EGAT World Cup in Thailand, beating Northern Ireland in the final. And he won the Championship League to ensure his place in the 2012 Premier League.
But Ding lost in the first round of five of the eight main ranking events, including a galling 10-9 defeat to Ryan Day, from 9-6 up, at the Betfred.com World Championship. He fell seven places down the world ranking list during the season and finished it at No 11.
In 2011 he won snooker's most prestigious invitation event, the Masters, for the first time. He faced Marco Fu in the first ever all-Asian final in a major snooker tournament. Ding performed brilliantly, making a century and seven more breaks over 60 in a 10-4 victory.
In 2011 he also got to the semi-finals at the Crucible for the first time. Ding looked favourite for the final when he led Judd Trump 15-14, only for the young Englishman to hit back to win a classic contest 17-15.
At the 2009 UK Championship he beat John Higgins in the final, coming from 7-6 down to win 10-8.
He is the youngest player ever to win three ranking titles, and the only one other than Higgins to do so before his 20th birthday.
His first title came at the 2005 China Open when he delighted his fans in Beijing by coming from 4-1 down to beat Hendry 9-5 in the final. His second came later that year at the UK Championship - his first major title on British soil and one which demonstrated to BBC Sport viewers the extent of his talent. It was exuberant youth against experience and wisdom at the tournament's conclusion and he comfortably got the better of Steve Davis, 30 years his senior, 10-6.
His third came at the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy in Belfast when he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-6.
Ding has become one of China's most famous sportsmen, and is at the spearhead of an emerging army of Chinese players making an impact on the professional Tour.
In 2006 he came back from the Asian Games in Qatar, clutching a haul of three gold medals for the individual, doubles and team disciplines.
Ding won the World under-21 Championship at the age of 15, beating David John 11-9 in the final in Latvia.
His hobbies away from snooker include swimming, badminton and watching Jackie Chan movies. He also enjoys football -and supports Manchester United.
