STUART Bingham admits the prospect of playing in the Crucible Theatre’s unique one-table set-up is spurring him on to success after coming through the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
The Basildon potter beat qualifier Robbie Williams 10-7 in an attritional battle on Monday evening after trailing 5-4 following the morning session.
Bingham failed to make a century but fought his way to victory to set up a second-round clash with 2006 world champion Graeme Dott.
The 38-year-old exited in the first round last year and has never reached the semi-final stage, when the venue changes from two tables to one, so was relieved to scrape past Williams, even if it wasn’t always pretty.
“It would be a nice confidence booster to play well and win comfortably but a win is a win at the end of the day and that’s what matters at the Crucible,” explained Bingham.
“Robbie played pretty well and punished me in the first session, so I’m just happy to get through. I’ve got a few days off now before I play Graeme.
“You know what you get with Graeme - it’s going to be a hard battle and I will have to drag him off the table.
“It’s a lifetime ambition to get to the semi-finals or win it, playing on that one-table set-up.
“I’ve come here with pretty good form and the disappointment of last year has put that bit of extra pressure on me.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article