World Championship Sensation

A star is born...
Bingham 10 frames - Hendry 7 frames

First Round

On the first day of the World championship at The Crucible in Sheffield, Stuart Bingham, a 23 year old qualifier from Basildon Snooker Club (a club!) defeated the seven-times world champion, Stephen Hendry in the most sensational upset since Tony Knowles knocked out Steve Davis, 10-1.

An 8-to-1 outsider to beat the World Champion when he arrived at Sheffield on Saturday, Stuart Bingham has been a member of Basildon Snooker since the age of 14 - when he was spotted by Joe Lazarus. Joe has been his coach and mentor ever since.

Coach and mentor

spoke to Joe Lazarus, manager of Basildon snooker;

"I knew he could win," Joe explains, "he is good enough to beat anybody in the world. He is superb in practice - he's had twenty 147s. All he had to do was take it to the match table. He has done that now," Joe chortles.

"I simply told him, just before we went out into the arena," Joe says, "you have lived up to all my expectations. I don't care if you win or lose - just go out there and enjoy yourself." And he did, building a lead against the champion, fighting off the determined and expected Hendry fightback, and then; delivering the coup de grace - a 10 frames to 7 victory. What a night!

On to Round Two

And what does Stuart Bingham have to say about a victory that has rocked snooker to its foundations?

The best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I can't explain the feeling. But it's gradually sinking in.

So who has to face the Young Gun now ? Wait for this, it's... Jimmy White, who beat Billy Snaddon in the first round. on Friday 21 April. Watch this space for comments from Joe and Stuart when the opponent is confirmed. Stuart Bingham v. Jimmy White... they'll be hanging from the rafters for that one! And Joe? Well he says, "No change of plan. Stuart has one plan for the tournament....enjoy it!".

The Future

So what is the plan now? For a start Joe and Stuart came back down from Sheffield and Stuart is at the practise table in Basildon. Of course they started with 18-holes of golf at Epping Forest. Well, it was a projected 18 holes (so who said golf upsets the performance of top snooker players - it doesn't affect Stuart Bingham!). In fact they managed one hole before the TV, radio, newspapers - the Media Circus in short - brought it all to a halt. so its back to Basildon? Yes, well yes and not quite.....

The World Championship is one thing...then there is something vital

On the evening of Monday 17 April, fresh from his lofty triumph at Sheffield, Stuart Bingham walks out into the seething cauldron that is The Executive Snooker Club, Leigh-on-sea (yes folks another snooker club - I promise, we are EVERYWHERE!). Stuart Bingham will partner Robert Donkin (another Basildon Snooker graduate - boy, is it a hothouse of talent, or what?) in the quarter finals of the Vic Harris League (Monday night league) doubles. Stuart and Robert are playing Wayne Stribling and Simon Marlton (two more Basildon Snooker players - honestly we are not making this up. Ed.) What a night this promises to be. I doubt if even Leigh has ever seen anything like it !!.