THE 2017/18 snooker season may have only ended a month ago but Stuart Bingham is already eyeing up a strong campaign next time around.

The world number 13 had a disrupted campaign following a three month suspension from the sport after he was found guilty of betting offences.

The 42-year-old from Bowers Gifford is determined to enjoy the new season after the qualifying draw was made for the first two competitions of the year - the Riga Masters in Latvia and the World Open in China.

And, after a few weeks off, he is gearing up for the challenge.

“I had a few weeks off after the World Championship while keeping my eye in a few times a week,” said the 2015 World Champion.

“I am back practicing now and once the draws start happening you know it isn’t long until it all gets going again.

“I face a Chinese duo to start off with and I can’t wait to get going.”

Bingham will face Zhang Anda in qualifying for the World Open and

Niu Zhuang for the right to play in Riga.

The match against Zhuang is first up on Tuesday, July 3 before the qualifier against Zhang three days later.

And Bingham is looking forward to testing himself against the pair.

“I know Zhang a bit as he used to play down at the Grove Academy in Romford,” said Bingham.

“He has moved up north now but he is a dangerous player.

“I am not sure about the other lad but it depends how we are both feeling on the day.”

Bingham accepts he has a lot of points to defend in the upcoming season if he wants to continue to remain a top 16 player.

Having turned 42 in May Bingham is one of the oldest players on the tour but he says he is backing himself to have a good season at the table.

“Unless I do anything stupid I will get a full season under my belt this year,” he said.

“It was up and down last year but on the table I got to a few finals and the game is still there.

“I came up against a really good opponent [Jack Lisowski] at the worlds and I didn’t really do much wrong. Jack played very well.

“Because of what happened last season I have fallen down the rankings to 13 so I have a lot of points to defend. I need to get a good start.

“I am one of the oldest on the tour now but that doesn’t really play a part.

“Look at how successful the older players were last season,” added Bingham.

“It was a really good season for a number of guys. Ronnie [O’Sullivan] won five tournaments, John Higgins and Mark Williams played a great final at the Crucible and Ding [Junhui], Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen showed their class once again. The young guys need to be really good to match that level. Kyren [Wilson] is the main one doing that at the moment and others need to do the same.”