Basildon professional Stuart Bingham admits he badly needs a good run in this season’s World Championship to rescue his year.

The new towner started the season 21st in the official rankings but was rated 15th in the provisional list and looked set for his first ever placing among the game’s elite top 16.

But, since the dawn of 2009, Bingham has failed to make the final stages of two ranking events, the Welsh and China Opens.

And he is now down to 19th provisionally with another fall certain when the main stages of the China event go ahead later this month.

He starts his World Championship challenge against Scot Alan McManus in the final qualifying round at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sports on Sunday with two sessions for the best of 19 frames.

McManus is not the force he was earlier in his career, when he won two ranking events and emerged 1994 Masters champion. But he will still provide a stern test.

He is ranked 37th and 41st provisionally.

The main event at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre is from April 18-May 4 and Bingham had a great run last year, beating Adrian Gunnell in the final qualifiers and six-times world champ Steve Davis in the first round proper.

In stark contrast to his form in ranking events, Bingham sparkled in the group four Champions League at Crondon Park, Billericay.

After a 3-1 win over Jamie Cope, Bingham beat Scot John Higgins, one of the game’s star names, 3-1 in the final to earn the right to play in the winners’ group with Mark Allen, Joe Perry and Mark Selby later this month.

The overall winner will join the top stars in next season’s televised Premier League.

He admitted: “I couldn’t believe it. I went into the event at Crondon Park with no form whatsoever.

“I’d lost a bit of confidence in failing to get through the Welsh and China qualifiers, but now I’m hoping my wins at Crondon will give me a boost for the World Championship.”

For his exertions at Billericay Bingham won £6,000 — his biggest cheque for five years.