The old snooker adage "pot as many balls as you can" will have special meaning for Basildon pro Stuart Bingham over the coming week.

For, starting on Saturday, he will hope to be playing eight matches in ten days if he is to win through to the main stages of three main tour events.

Eyes on the prize - Stuart Bingham is preparing for a busy week of action Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

All the action is at the famous Norbreck Castle Hotel venue in Blackpool and the busy schedule for Bingham, based at Leigh's Executive Club, starts on Saturday when he begins his challenge for the European Open.

In that opening match he could come up against old Essex adversary Matthew Selt, who he beat for the top Pontin's title last term, but only if the Romford man is able to overcome Thailand's highly-rated Kwan Poomjang.

If successful in his opener, Bingham will then go on to play in the European event on Sunday and Monday before enjoying a day off.

Then, providing he keeps winning, it will be three days of action from next Wednesday in the Citywest Irish Masters.

With just one more day to relax, on Saturday week, it is straight on to trying to win a place in the Regal Scottish main stages over two days.

Busy Bingham will then have a week's break before driving up to Blackpool again a week later to start his bid to qualify for the Embassy World Championship.

That tournament has brought Bingham notoriety in recent times.

In the 2000 event he knocked out seven times champion Stephen Hendry in the opening round of the main competition.

And, last year, he was just a couple of balls away from a maximum 147 break which would have netted him a £167,000 prize.

Bingham said: "I'm playing well and feel confident about the next few weeks, but making progress in any of the main tour events is far from easy as there are so many good players around these days."

Published Friday, January 10, 2003

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