Championship League snooker: Vintage Stuart Bingham seals spot in final stages – ‘I’m over the moon’

Former world and Masters champion Stuart Bingham produced some vintage form to book his place in the final stages of the Championship League with a 3-0 Group 1 final win over Gary Wilson in Leicester on Wednesday evening.

Bingham followed up a 3-2 victory over Kyren Wilson in the semi-finals by producing breaks of 61 and 62 against the Scottish Open champion Wilson, who he also edged 3-2 in the group stage on Tuesday.

World No. 26 Bingham had reached the last four courtesy of wins against Robert Milkins (3-1), Chris Wakelin (3-2) and Noppon Saengkham (3-2) to finish third in the Group 1 standings on four points, with Ryan Day claiming top spot ahead of Kyren Wilson on frames won on five points, with Gary Wilson in fourth spot on three points

Gary Wilson edged Ryan Day 3-2 in the other semi-final match despite Day producing a break of 102 in the opening frame.

“The last-gasp win against Gary to win 3-2 in the last game yesterday, I knew I was hitting the ball well in practice,” said Bingham, who saw the 13th black jump off the table in a 147 maximum attempt in the final frame of his group victory over Noppon.

“I didn’t practice loads over Christmas, but enough that I felt I was coming here with a bit of form. I think that win yesterday proved I was hitting it well and I’ve won every game today so I’m over the moon.

“I felt really good in the balls and I’m feeling really calm at one pace around the table. A couple times I missed the ball today when I tried to quicken up and get on with it, and then missed it! Trying to stay calm did the trick today.”

Seven players face each other in the group stage with the top four players from each group progressing to the play-offs.

The champion from each group progresses to the winners’ group on March 1 and 2, with the other top four players continuing to Group 2 as the bottom two players are eliminated at the end of each group.

Mark Selby, Matthew Selt and Ali Carter join Group 2 alongside Day, Gary Wilson, Kyren Wilson and Chris Wakelin on Thursday, with Noppon and Milkins eliminated from the tournament before Group 2 concludes on Friday.

The winner of the Championship League earns a spot in the Champion of Champions later this year.