Basildon's Stuart Bingham is feeling on top of the snooker world after qualifying for the main stages of the sport's World Championships for the second time.
The 25-year-old professional, who plays out of the Executive Club in Leigh, produced a superb performance in Newport on Sunday night to earn his right to play Sheffield's Crucible Theatre next month.
Bingham recovered from an early 3-0 deficit in the best of 19 frames final qualifying round clash with Nigel Bond, runner-up in 1995, to win 10-6.
There was no mistaking Bingham's determination to obtain another taste of the big time at the Crucible when he took on Bond.
He said: "Even when I went 3-0 down I wasn't worried. I made a mistake in the first as I hadn't realised that I only needed to pot the ball I was on to take the game.
"Nigel had the run of the balls in the next couple after that, but I bounced back with four on the trot to lead 4-3 and was 5-4 ahead at the mid-session break."
Two years ago Bingham went out in the second round to Jimmy White after a shock win over Stephen Hendry.
Published Tuesday, March 19, 2002
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