Bingham sees off ex-world champ Ebdon in China (From Echo)

Bingham sees off ex-world champ Ebdon in China

9:45am Thursday 2nd October 2008 in Sport

IT was again a case of best China for Stuart Bingham yesterday as the Basildon snooker pro produced a cracking performance at the Shanghai Masters.

The 32-year-old new towner beat former world champion Peter Ebdon 5-3 in the first round of an event which saw him display his best form last season.

Then, in the tournament’s debut season, he triumphed over another Crucible winner, Mark Williams, and Stuart Pettman, before crashing out at the hands of 2007 world championship beaten finalist Mark Selby.

Bingham, now in his 13th year as a tournament professional after winning the world amateur crown, has never made the semi-finals of a ranking event.

After an outstanding 2007/08 campaign, he started this term in a best-ever official ranking position of 21st. In the unofficial ratings based on last season alone he stood 15th, but his hopes of finally making the official top 16 at the end of the current campaign have not got off to a good start.

He suffered first round defeat in the Northern Ireland Trophy and was knocked out in the final qualifying round of the forthcoming Royal London Watches Grand Prix.

However, against Ebdon, with whom he was locked at 2-2 at the interval, he produced a fine century break to move towards victory over the world number nine, who now lives in Dubai.

Bingham was back in action hunting for a quarter-final spot today when he took on Stephen Maguire, who defeated Barry Hawkins 5-3.

Of the other Essex players in the field, six-times world champion Steve Davis from Romford, who beat defending title holder Domi-nic Dale, and current world champ, Chigwell’s Ronnie O’Sullivan, won their first round matches.

But Tiptree’s Ali Carter, beaten by O’Sullivan at the Crucible final in May, crashed 5-2 against Williams.