Limerick-born Leo Fernandez, ranked 130 in the world, has completed a stunning comeback victory against World number three, Ding Jun Hui at the UK Championship.
Fernandez, aged 41, fell 5-1 behind before rallying to secure an improbable 6-5 victory over the regal Ding Jun Hui, who has won this tournament twice before, yet tonight finds himself ousted by a man who has not won a match at any of his four previous tournaments.
This is, in fact, Fernandez' first win since a 15-month ban on corruption charges in 2015. The charge related to spot-fixing in his World Championship first qualifying round match against Gary Wilson on April 6.
This is a phenomenal way to mark his return, however, whose best-ever tournament finish was a last 16 placing at the 2003 Welsh Open, which presaged his highest-ever World Ranking: 65th a year later.
Incredibly, Fernandez achieved the win in spite of suffering from a back injury that threatens his career, as he told WorldSnooker.com.
It’s my best moment in snooker for sure.
At 5-1 down I was thinking about the train journey home. I tried to stay calm and enjoy it.
I’m suffering from a slipped disc in my back and sciatica so I’m lucky to be here. It was hard fighting the pain. The adrenaline kept me going and I started to play well.
I’m having physiotherapy and acupuncture. I might need to have surgery which could end my career, but if that happens at least I’ll take this win with me.
