STUART Bingham said he felt in great shape as he brushed aside the precocious Judd Trump in China.

The 35-year-old from Vange hit two centuries as he romped past the 22-year-old from Romford at the Shanghai Masters.

Shortly after claiming the 5-1 victory, Bingham told our newspaper: “I was not hitting the ball that well on the practice table, so I feared the worst.

“But once the match got started I relaxed and won the first frame with a hundred.

“I needed three snookers to win the next frame, and I got them, and then I hit another 100 in the third.

“He was on for a maximum in the next frame, but he missed on 96.

“And then it was a bit scrappy, but I got over the line.”

Bingham, who broke into the top 16 with his first ranking event win in July, said earlier this week he is now eyeing up a spot in the top eight.

A good showing in China will go a long way towards that aim.

But he’ll have his work cut out in his second round match today against reigning World Champion John Higgins.

Bingham said: “I think I only missed one ball in the first four frames against Judd, so my game is in great shape.

“But you know what you get with Higgins. He has not achieved what he has done in the game without being one of the best.

“But I’ll be up for it, and I’ll be looking to progress.”

Bingham said he had settled well in China, and had already managed to talk to and see his fiancee Michelle and their new-born son Shae on a webcam.

He said he had even managed to catch some of the England football team’s scrappy 1-0 win against Wales.

He said: “I watched the first half of the TV, but I fell asleep for the second half.

“And from what I hear, that was probably for the best!”