Stuart Bingham ready for shoot-out 'lottery' (From Echo)

Stuart Bingham ready for shoot-out 'lottery'

3:00pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Sport By James Colasanti

STUART Bingham feels he’s the favourite to beat Anthony Hamilton in their opening round clash at the Snooker Shoot-Out tomorrow night, but admits all 64 players go into the exciting format knowing it’s a “lottery”.

World number 10 Bingham gets underway against world number 37 Hamilton at the Blackpool Tower Circus Arena in a clash which will be screened on Sky Sports at 6pm tonight.

“All 64 players go into this thinking the same thing – the winners are likely to be those for who the balls fall kindly on the day,” said Bingham.

“There’s not much of a tactical side. You can look to get 40 or 50 in front and then make the balls awkward for your opponent, but at the end of the day it’s a lottery.

“Playing Anthony Hamilton might suit me because he plays a bit slower than me, and I might have to put myself slight favourite.

“But he’s hit a bit of form lately, so he’ll be up for it.”

Bingham beat Liu Song in the opening round last year, but then went out to Jamie Jones in the last 32 at the prestigious invitational tournament.

This year’s tournament carries a first prize of £32,000 for the last man standing after Sunday evening’s final.

Bingham said: “I take the Shoot-Out as a bit of fun and just see how it maps out.

“But what happens is you win a match and realise there is money to be won – and then a bit of pressure creeps in!”