Bingham keen to jump past Hendry in 147 list
STEPHEN HENDRY is in Stuart Bingham’s sights after the reigning Masters champion kicked off his title defence with a nervy 6- 4 win over Thepchaiya Un- Nooh.
The world No. 12 endured a finish line wobble at 5- 1 up but eventually held his nerve to dash the Thai’s hopes in Milton Keynes.
Bingham struck a second 147 break in the space of two months at the Championship League week – also against Un- Nooh – and had a chance for another at 5- 1 up against the world No. 16.
He failed to convert it but the 2015 world champion still lies fourth on the all- time maximum list – on eight – behind Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Hendry.
Bingham is just three behind seven- time world champion Hendry and the 44- year- old said: “It may have been a bit mad at 5- 1 up to go for the max, but the way I’m playing at the moment I feel like I had a good shout.
“I went for it after potting the first black, got the nice cannon on the red and it left me a chance. I thought if I have a go at this it’d be nice, but I was a but unfortunate. It comes in spells. I had one just before Christmas in the UK [ Championship] and then literally last week in the Championship League against Thepchaiya.
“I probably won’t even think about it for the next six months, but when the chance presents itself I don’t shy away from it.
“It would be nice to get to ten, double figures. And then if I get to ten, I’m sure I’ll
try and beat Hendry’s record. Ronnie’s a bit untouchable, and Higgins is on 11 as well. It’s one of those things – I’ve always been a break builder and I don’t shy away from it when it presents itself.”
Six- time Crucible king O’Sullivan has struck an imperious 15 maximum breaks and holds the record for the fastest ever one – with all 36 balls potted in just five minutes and eight seconds.
Bingham notched the seventh of his career against Zak Surety in the UK Championship before doubling up in rapid time against UnNooh last week.
He was unable to clinch a stunning 2020- 21 treble but the six- time ranking event winner did make a fine visit of 114 in the third frame as he raced into the lead.
Bingham will face either Mark Williams or Shaun Murphy in the quarter- finals and those two players were locked in a late night thriller on Monday evening.
Three- time world champion Williams continued to thwart Murphy’s advances and the players were level at four frames apiece in the race to six.
Murphy, king of the Crucible in 2005, led for much of the contest but two century breaks and a 54 from evergreen Williams, 45, pegged the world No. 7 back.
World No. 2 Neil Robertson takes on Chinese sensation Yan Bingtao on Tuesday, while three- time Masters winner Mark Selby faces out of sorts Stephen Maguire.
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