At the 2017 World Cup, Ding and China's number-two player Liang Wenbo defeated the English pair Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins in a deciding frame, winning the event 4–3. Ding led the Chinese team at the CVB Snooker Challenge, losing 26–9 to the British team. He lost 6–1 to the captain of the British team Ronnie O'Sullivan. He then participated in the second China Championship but was defeated 5–0 whitewash to Alan McManus in the last 32 in a rematch of the semi-finals of the 2015 World Championship. As the defending Six-red World Champion, Ding lost 6–1 to Marco Fu in the last 16. Ding won the World Open, beating Luca Brecel 6–4 in the semi-finals and Kyren Wilson 10–3 in the final.