STUART Bingham believes he will need to win an upcoming tournament if he is to qualify for the Players Championship next month.

The 41-year-old competed in his first tournament since returning from a six-month ban from snooker – which was suspended for three months – at the Coral Shoot-Out last week.

Bingham reached the fourth round in the best-of-one frame event, before he was beaten by Mark Davis, which was enough to secure his place in next month’s World Grand Prix.

However, Bingham believes he must triumph in Preston or one of the following three events if he is to have a chance of breaking into the top 16 one year ranking list - necessary to play in the Players Championship - with him currently placing 31st.

And with two times world champion Mark Williams to come in the first round at the World Grand Prix next Wednesday, Bingham accepts he has an uphill task on his hands.

“I am looking forward to it,” said Bingham, who lives in Bowers Gifford. “Mark is seeded two and he is doing well at the moment [having won the Northern Ireland Open and German Masters this season].

“That said, I am sure he didn’t want to draw me either so it should be a good match. It is a best-of-seven match, so it is not as bad as the Snooker Shoot-Out but you still need to get in early.

“I feel I have a few things to prove and I want to do well. I think I will need to win one or get to a few semi-finals or final to make the Players Championship.

“I will have to do something special. I need to win and that would be great and a good way to mark my comeback.

“The odds are stacked against me but I am looking forward to it all the same.”

A good run in Preston would mean a very quick turnaround ahead of the Welsh Open, beginning on Monday, February 26.

Should Bingham reach the final, he would have less than 24 hours before his next match begins in Cardiff.

As reigning champion, Bingham begins proceedings in the capital at 10am on Monday against Chinese opponent Chen Zhe.

Bingham, seeded one in Wales, defeated Judd Trump 9-8 in a thrilling final frame in last year’s competition.

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I DON'T KNOW WHAT "SNOOKER PURSISTS" REACTION WILL BE

STUART Bingham says the World Grand Prix will be a better way to gauge the ‘snooker purists’ reaction to his return to the tour.

The Bowers Gifford player was found guilty of betting offences last October, and made his return to competition at the Snooker Shoot-Out last week.

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Back on the circuit - Stuart Bingham

World number 11 Bingham beat James Silverwood, Scott Donaldson and Elliot Slessor on his way to the round of 16 and he was well received by the boisterous crowd in Watford.

And he says he enjoyed the tournament, while accepting the Grand Prix next week will be a better way to assess what the mass reaction is to his suspension.

“It is always good fun and you take it for what it is,” said Bingham. “The adrenaline is going and it is not the norm. You can get the crowd involved but you need to try and treat it like any other tournament.

“I had a good run this time before I was beaten by my good friend Mark Davis.

“I could have gone out the round before but got a lucky break so it was good to spend some time out there.

“It is easy to go out in the first round but I stuck in there and that is what counts. Having missed three months and still qualified for the World Grand Prix is really pleasing.

“The Shoot-Out isn’t one for the purists and it has a different fan base so I think you will see how people react to my return at the Grand Prix.

“We will have to see if there is any booing then.”

The World Grand Prix begins on Monday and is broadcast live on ITV4.