Home favorite Ding Junhui bowed out of the Honghe Industrial China Open in Beijing on Wednesday after a surprise defeat to Barry Hawkins.

Ding, 19, was beaten 5-3 at the Beijing University Gymnasium despite having had chances to draw level and take the match into a deciding frame. The Chinese prodigy's early exit from this event will come as a big disappointment to his army of fans who packed the arena.

But for Hawkins, who had not won a ranking match all season, victory was understandably sweet. "I've not won a match all season, so to beat Ding is a great result for me," said the world No. 12. "I knew I was playing well, but it was just a case of getting over the line at the end. That's something I've not been able to do this season."

Editor: Donald