China's top cueman Ding Junhui defeated Welsh professional snooker player Michael White at the Ladbrokes Players Championship at the Event City in Manchester on Thursday.

The former world No. 1 advanced into the top 16 of the projected rankings with a 4-0 battering of White.

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A few weeks ago, Ding, who is the first and only Asian to enter the world's top ranking, was 19^th on the projected list. However, by reaching at least the quarterfinals of three consecutive ranking events, the famous Chinese snooker player has now moved into 16^th place surpassing compatriot Liang Wenbo.

Ding can avoid having to qualify for the World Championship if he keep his place in that bracket by the end of next week's China Open that will be staged in Beijing.

An excellent 143 total clearance, the tournament's highest break so far, gave the 2015 Haining Open champion the opening frame on Thursday, and he added up the next three over an out-of-sorts White with top breaks of 62 and 80.

"Everyone is talking about the top 16 this week but I'm trying not to think about it, I'm just trying to win matches," The Star of the East said. "I'm getting more confidence with each match. I started with a big break today and that helped. Michael is a great player but he struggled today."

Meanwhile, 2015 Shanghai Open winner Ricky Walden of England continued his return to form by defeating Marco Fu of Hong Kong with a 4-2 win to make his first ranking event quarter-final of the season.

Fu looked set to go 3-2 up until he missed a black off its spot on 57 in frame five. Walden, 33, made a 42 clearance then winded up in style in the sixth with a 103.

Barry Hawkins got the better of Robert Milkins 4-3 with a top break of 79 to earn a meeting with Ding Junhui in the quarterfinals on Friday.

TagsDing Junhui, ladbrokes players championship, marco fu, Michael White