Stuart Bingham targeting a hat-trick of Chinese titles

The 38-year-old from Vange won the Haining Open on Friday, only six weeks after he came out on top at the Shanghai Masters.

Bingham beat Oliver Lines 4-1 in the final, having breezed past home favourite and world number three Ding Junhui 4-0 in the previous round.

And he is now aiming to make it a hat-trick at the International Championship, the richest prize in China, after he kicked off his campaign in Chengdu against Robbie Williams with a 6-4 win yesterday.

“I am knackered,” admitted Bingham. “But it is a great feeling coming off the back of two wins in China. I played a few games early on and by the time it got to the later rounds I was hitting the balls really well.

“Winning in Shanghai took the pressure off a bit ahead of the International but winning in Haining, if anything, has put that pressure back on.

“This is my fourth Asian tour win and I do seem to do well over here,” he laughed. “I am playing well and if I keep it up and get past the first few rounds in the International then anything could happen.”

But Bingham didn’t say he was playing the best snooker of his career, instead saying he was pleased with his “consistent” form.

“I just want to keep it up,” he said. “I am playing at a high level at the moment and my competitors know that. People may change their games when it comes to facing me but I don’t mind that. I just need to focus on myself.”

The potter acknowledged the busy schedule but said he was pleased to see his games come thick and fast while he was playing so well. He played his final five matches on the way to the Haining Masters title in less than 36 hours.

“The schedule is a packed one but it is something I have gotten used to,” he said. “When I was younger the amount of professional-amateur events was intense and it prepared me for this.

“I’m riding the crest of a wave at the moment. I just need to follow it up now.”

Bingham will take on Ryan Day in the second round on Tuesday.