Bingham's bid to stay in snooker's top 16 (From Echo)

Bingham's bid to stay in snooker's top 16

2:10pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Other Sport By James Colasanti

STUART Bingham admits he needs a solid showing at next week’s Welsh Open to keep hold of the top 16 place he’s battled so hard to achieve.

Bingham has fallen from 11 to 16 in the latest projected rankings and has Chester’s Ricky Walden and Sussex’s Mark Davis breathing down his neck.

An early exit for Bingham in Newport, combined with qualification and a good showing from either Walden or Davis, could see him lose his elite ranking.

But the 35-year-old from Vange was in relaxed mood this week and focused on what he needs to do.

“The important thing is I’m happy with my game at the moment,” he said.

“I think a big part of the reason I’m in this position is that I have had some really tough draws.

“At the end of the day I have not won enough matches, and that is why I am 16th.

“But it is fine margins. If I had won my UK match I would have another 2,000 points and my place in the top 16 would not be under pressure.

“And that is why it is so important to win your first-round matches.

“But, I got into the top 16 by working hard and then winning a tournament.

“But now I know I need to work hard to stay there and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Since winning the Australian Goldfields Open in July, Bingham has been knocked out of ranking tournaments in the early stages by current world champion John Higgins and former Grand Prix champion Marco Fu.

Earlier this month he had to get past former world champion Peter Ebdon in the first round at the German Masters, but was then knocked out by a double world champion in the form of Mark Williams.

And it will be no easier for him at the Welsh Open where he will face either Mark King, Dave Harold or Alan McManus, depending who comes through qualifying.

Bingham said: “They are all former top 16 players. McManus and Harold have won tournaments, and King spent about 10 years in the top 16.

“So that is how it has gone for me this year, but I guess it is just luck of the draw.

“And to be fair people probably used to look at it that way when I was coming up and they drew me in the first round. But that is just what comes with being in the top 16, and I would not have it any other way.”

Bingham was knocked out of the Welsh Open by Mark Selby last year.

If he gets past the first round this time he could face fellow-Essex boy Judd Trump in the next round, and possibly Mark Williams or Ronnie O’Sullivan later in the tournament.