THIS TITLE’S FOR HATERS SAYS STU

STUART BINGHAM insists he “stuck it up the backside of the haters” with a first ranking title since his ban for betting on snooker.

The former world champion still feels bitter and aggrieved over his three-month suspension last season for breaking the rules.

Bingham, 42, claimed a fifth career title with a

9-7 victory over close friend Mark Davis (inset) at the English Open in Crawley on Sunday night.

But despite not appealing the verdict Bingham maintains he bet only on matches not involving himself – a view at odds with the decision of the WPBSA hearing.

Bingham, the 2015 Crucible king, was in tears as he accepted the Steve Davis Trophy – and acknowledged the toll the affair had taken.

And he remains angry he is often bracketed by fans with those fixing matches, when the verdict made clear he was not charged with or guilty of any corruption.

Bingham said: “There was a lot of emotion. There are haters out there and to prove people wrong it is special and no one can take that away.

“My wife has been there for me, my manager Terry Griffiths has kept me going on the table. It has been hard.

“You feel people are talking behind your back and it is hard to take. I have always been friendly with anyone and since it happened I have reined it in and don’t know who I can trust.

“I felt I was made a bit of a target for what I had done in the game. I can sit here and swear on my kids’ lives I didn’t bet on my own games – but that is what I got done on and banned for.

“I get called ‘cheat, cheat, cheat’ on Facebook but I’m going to get that. It makes this much sweeter having had what you love doing taken away.

“And for the doubters, it sticks it up a few people’s backsides really.

“I even started to doubt myself a bit, whether I’d ever get back. It has given me an extra incentive to do well.

“The moment I got the ban might have been the worst. I was in China, and instead of going to

Daqing I had to fly home. It was a shock and it hurt.”