Bingham is after the silver

STUART Bingham is targeting an end to his trophy drought at t he Betway UK Championship after making a perfect start in York.

The world No 2 made breaks of 127 and 108 in a 6-0 cruise past Adam Stefanow, a 22-year-old Po l i s h a m a t e u r w h o offered only token resistance.

Tougher matches lie ahead but Bingham i s determined to add to his 2015 world title, having gone almost 19 months without silverware since that shock triumph i n Sheffield.

The unexpected gear change i n his one-time journeyman career l ast year has been followed by a mixed bag of results.

But a final appearance at the big-money China Championship and semifinal runs at the recent Shanghai Masters, English Open and I nternational Championship have persuaded Bingham he is soon to be a winner again.

He has also reached the UK semi-finals t wice before at the Barbican Centre, so has a liking for the venue.

“It was a good start and long may it continue,” Bingham said. “I’ve had a couple of good runs here and my game’s in good shape, it’s just winning that title that’s missing at the moment.

“My game’s there and it’s only people playing outstandingly well to beat me.

“The last few people to beat me have been Mark Selby, John Higgins and Liang Wenbo and they’ve played unbelievable. It would be great to get my hands on this trophy.”

Mark Selby trounced veteran Andy Hicks 6-1.

Stuart Bingham