STUART Bingham said returning to the snooker circuit was an “unbelievable” feeling.

The 41-year-old completed a six month ban from the sport - suspended for three months - last Friday.

It came after the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association found him guilty of betting offences last October.

The 2015 World Champion missed a number of high ranking events because of his ban but returned to action just two days after the ban concluded - beating Jimmy White to qualify for the China Open.

And Bingham, who lives in Bowers Gifford, says it is great to be back although he admits he was nervous about making the return.

“It is great to be back and playing on the tour,” said Bingham. “It feels like it has gone quickly now but it felt like a lifetime while I was actually serving the ban.

“I enjoyed playing Jimmy and it was good to win but I think the biggest opponent when I step out there is going to be myself.

“A lot has happened in the last three months and everything that has been going on my head I need to keep under wraps. I have been working hard and practicing so I would be in the best possible place when I returned.”

Bingham apologised after he was found guilty by a committee but has categorically denied betting on any of his own matches, despite the findings of the WPBSA committee.

Having previously told the Echo he thought he would get more support from fellow professionals than he did following the outcome of the investigation, Bingham admits he has learned his lesson but accepts he may get booed by supporters.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about the reaction,” he said. “The people that are proper snooker fans will understand and know what sort of person I am.

“I have said the bets were never on my own matches and I was banned on probabilities [having made bets on advisor Gary Purkiss’s account].

“I might get booed but the players and people who know me understand the situation. There will be always be fans for or against.

“It feels like it has been a 13 month sentence rather than three months as it took 10 months to come to the decision. I was turning up to events feeling like I was going to get banned.

“But it is nice to put it behind me and I won’t do it again.”

Bingham’s first tournament back will be the Snooker Shoot-Out held in Watford where his opponent will be amateur James Silverwood.

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GRAND PRIX QUALIFICATION IS MY NEXT TARGET

STUART Bingham says qualifying for the Snooker Grand Prix is his immediate target after returning to the sport.

Following the conclusion of his ban for betting offences, the Bowers Gifford player made light work of Jimmy White in his first match back to qualify for the China Open.

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Echo: Stuart Bingham in action at the UK Championship.

Staying focused - Stuart Bingham

Bingham is now turning his attention to the Snooker Shoot Out, which begins next Thursday in Watford.

Just the top 32 players in the world qualify for the Grand Prix, which begins on February 19. And with Bingham currently ranked 30th, he admits he will need to win some matches next week to secure his place at the Preston-based ranking event and, beyond that, the World Championship.

“I will take it step by step for now and I am seeing the Shoot Out as an opportunity,” he said. “It is always a fun tournament which can be decided on the toss of a coin. It is my chance to stay in the Grand Prix. That is my immediate aim.

“Beyond that, I am seeded 12th in the race to the Crucible so I need to win matches to stay in the top 16. I have little goals I am focusing on.”

Bingham’s ban meant his missed out on competing in the Masters earlier this month - the first time he had missed the event since 2011.

Mark Allen beat Kyron Wilson in the final, and Bingham said having a watching brief hurt.

“I haven’t watched much snooker recently but I did watch the Masters and it was good to see Mark win although I was gutted for Kyren,” he said. “It hurt not being in it but I will be back soon.”

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I FELT GREAT IN COMEBACK MATCH

STUART Bingham says he felt in excellent shape after easing through to the China Open following a 6-2 qualification victory against veteran Jimmy White.

The Bowers Gifford player overcame a first frame deficit to comfortably move past the veteran on Sunday night in Barnsley.

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Echo: ON CUE: Jimmy White will be appearing at Weymouth and Portland Snooker Club

Beaten - Stuart Bingham defeated former world champion Jimmy White

It was Bingham’s first competitive match since he suffered a shock defeat in the third round of the English Open by Iranian Hossein Vafaei at the end of October.

A six month ban from snooker followed - suspended for three months - after the 41-year-old was found guilty of betting offences.

But he says he felt in excellent nick at the table, with Welshman Matthew Stevens his first round opponent when the tournament begins at the start of April.

“I settled down pretty quickly although Jimmy did win the first frame, I could have taken it as well,” said Bingham.

“I felt pretty good and I made a nice break [81] after that and did the same again [79] to go 2-1 up.

“I mucked up in the fourth and should have taken a 3-1 lead into the interval but it was 2-2.

“But I spoke with Gary Purkiss and told him I felt in a good place and I felt confident it will be 6-2 or 6-3 after the interval.

“I had nervous energy pumping through my veins and my coach Terry Griffiths had spoken to me beforehand and wanted me to calm down as I felt so exited to get back out there.

“I got a nice reception off most of the players. A few had a laugh and were asking if I was a newbie on the tour.

“But getting the suit on and playing was just great. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Bingham then made breaks of 96 and 104 on his way to a comfortable victory, dropping just 33 points in the last four frames.