STUART Bingham is aiming to secure his passage into the semi-finals of the snooker World Championships for the first time ever this afternoon.

The 38-year-old will step out at the Crucible at 2:30pm where he will face either fellow Essex boy Ronnie O’Sullivan or Matthew Stevens at the Crucible.

It is more than likely that Bingham, who breezed past Graeme Dott 13-5 to secure a quarter-final berth last Friday, will once again meet O’Sullivan – who was leading Stevens 12-4 when the Echo went to press last night.

And should it be the Rocket, the Vange potter will be looking to arrest some poor form against the Epping-based man – trailing their head-to-head record 11-2.

Bingham has only won one of the last nine encounters, with five-time champion O’Sullivan coming out on top at the same stage in Sheffield two years ago – winning 13-4.

It is only Bingham’s second-appearance in the last eight of the competition and he says he is ready to face either O’Sullivan or Stevens, although admits he is eager to set the record straight against Ronnie.

“It would be great to play Ronnie at the Crucible again,” he said. “I have played him here twice and lost both times.

“Nerves will be a factor but you’ve just got to cope with it. The last time we played here was a couple of years ago and he hammered me 13-4.

“If I play similarly to how I did today or better, then I’ve got a chance.”