Steve Davis saluted Chinese sensation Ding Junhui after the 18-year-old inflicted a 10-6 defeat on the veteran in his 100th career final.

The Travis Perkins UK Championship final was dominated by the youngster after the players shared out the opening six frames, with Ding dazzling the York Barbican Centre crowd.

Six-time former world champion Davis enjoyed a magnificent run at the sport's second most prestigious ranking tournament, but he came up short against a player who had only just been born when he last won this title, in 1987.

It was a fantastic performance by the Shanghai youngster, ranked number 62 in the world, as he was never truly tested in any of his six matches in York where he supplemented the China Open he won as a wild-card entrant last season.

And 48-year-old Davis believes the future is extremely bright for Ding, who appears as well-rounded a player as anyone who has emerged on the scene in recent times.

"He has learned his trade quite quickly and is a dangerous player with a good all-round game," said the world number 15, who captured the first of his six UK crowns a quarter of a century ago.

"He's got a good tactical brain and isn't just a young player only with breaks in him.

"It's a different style of era now and players tend to mature at an earlier age. The general break-building and tactical play is much better than in the past.

"For instance, Jimmy White at the age of 18 would not have been as tactically aware as Ding is now and perhaps even Ronnie O'Sullivan was a bit more reckless with his shots at that age.

"Ding was stronger than me throughout the final and played great. He deserved to win. He played some really good stuff. He produced some excellent safety shots and strong break-building."

Around 100 million television viewers saw Ding beat Stephen Hendry to win his home event in the spring and this latest triumph could open the floodgates to talent from the Far East.

"I expect more players from China will emerge on the back of this," said Davis. "Some very good players are already coming through there."

Although he permanently looks one of the most laid-back players ever to have graced a top-flight snooker arena, and occasionally appears to be dozing off in his chair, Ding admitted he had been tense during his success against Davis.

"Compared to the China Open I felt much more pressure," said Ding, who is set to rise into the world's top 32 at least for next season.

"In England most people support Steve Davis and the pressure was on me in the final session when it looked like he might come back at me.

"But it is a great joy to win the second most important ranking event. When I first started to play snooker I never thought I could achieve something like this.

"It has given me loads of confidence and experience. I played well in the final, made more long pots and got more consistency in my break-building.

"I hope my victory will inspire more Chinese people to come to England to play snooker."