Bingham claims world snooker title
Sheffield ( United Kingdom), May 5: Stuart Bingham won the 2015 World Championship final, beating Shaun Murphy 18- 15 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday to take snooker’s most prestigious title for the first time in his 20- year professional career.
This all- English clash was a see- saw affair, with Bingham resuming Monday 9- 8 behind, having been 3- 0 and 8- 4 down at various stages of Sunday’s opening day in this best of 35- frame contest.
But the first- time finalist won Monday’s opening session 6- 2 to establish a 14- 11 lead.
Bingham edged further ahead at 15- 12 before Murphy, world champion in 2005, fought back to level at 15- 15.
The 38- year- old Bingham, who earlier in the tournament knocked out five- times world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, then won a marathon 64- minute frame to edge closer to the title before a break of 65 took him to within touching distance at 17- 15 in front.
Bingham, from Basildon, east of London, then completed his victory in fine style with a break of 88 to become the oldest player to lift the world championship trophy since Welsh great Ray Reardon won the 1978 final aged 45.
“At one stage at 15- 15 I thought I was going to do Shaun’s ( runner- up) speech,” Bingham told the BBC.
“Twenty years as professional, blood sweat and tears on the road. Qualifying in places like Prestatyn and Malvern. It is unbelievable,” he added.
Meanwhile, Murphy took his defeat in sporting fashion, saying: “I gave it my best and came up against an inspired Stuart Bingham.
“Sometimes your name is on the trophy. As a snooker geek like Stuart, there is not a player alive who deserves it more than him,” he added.
At 15- 12 in front, Bingham was in charge but Murphy, appearing in this third Crucible final and looking to equal the achievement of snooker great Alex Higgins in winning a second world title a decade after his first, was far from finished.
Bingham’s over- cut black gave Murphy a chance and he responded with a break of 75 before making 64 in the next.
Murphy needed three chance to win a scrappy 30th frame as he levelled the match but then gave away 38 points in fouls in the next after Bingham laid a couple of excellent snookers.