KIWI STAR KNOWS LEINSTER Lowe’s ready to tackle doubters
Bingo bounces back to stay in semi with Jak LEINSTER V N’HAMPTON Leinster ready to go running
STUART BINGHAM battled back to go to sleep level at the halfway stage of his semi-final with Jak Jones.
Bingham is the only world champion left with three qualifiers in the final four for the first time since 1977.
The 2015 winner, who won two matches to reach the Crucible, recovered from 7-6 and 8-7 behind to head into today locked at 8-8.
It was a real war of attrition as Ronnie O’Sullivan’s conqueror grew increasingly tired.
Six-time runnerup Jimmy White said: “Stuart will be delighted to get out at 8-8 because he was in shredsville.”
Having resumed all square at 4-4, Bingham moved 6-4 ahead with 79 and 107 breaks.
But Jones, who dumped out Judd Trump, edged 7-6 up with top runs of 67 and 68.
World No.29 Bingham, 47, clawed his way back level but Welshman Jones ensured he would be at least level overnight with a further 69 visit.
Record
Meanwhile, Steve David reckons Ronnie O’Sullivan has to win a record eighth World Championship sooner rather than later.
The six-time world champion knows exactly what it is like to decline as age catches up with you.
Davis ruled the baize in the 1980s but won his last Crucible crown aged 31 before Stephen Hendry took the mantle and dominated for the next decade.
Even Hendry, a seventime winner, was 30 when he last scaled the Sheffield mountain.
The evergreen Rocket, 48, has stretched the barrier of what is possible in the sport with his incredible longevity.
O’Sullivan, whose quest for glory was ended with a shock quarter-final defeat to Stuart Bingham, is the oldest winner of all three of the game’s Triple Crown majors.
But Davis, now 66, said: “He’s got a great chance for the next couple of years.
“I don’t know how long he can stay fighting fit as he gets into his 50s.
Astonishing
“That would be astonishing. If anybody could, it’s him because he’s so fit.
“Somewhere down the line the wheels fall off or his enthusiasm runs down. He’s only got a certain amount of years to do it.
“It’s astonishing that he could climb ever higher and higher.”
O’Sullivan stands head and shoulders above his peers in terms of majors (23), ranking titles (41), maximum breaks (15) and is the only player to make more than 1,000 centuries.
The world title record is the only scratch left to itch for the Chigwell cueman.
Davis, now a BBC pundit, added: “Eight would be the absolute icing on the cake for him. Nobody disputes he’s the best player they’ve ever seen.
“He’s got the right attitude to records, he doesn’t say he wants them, but if it happens he will be proud of it.”
Ray Reardon is the oldest ranking event champion winning the World Open aged 50 and 14 days.
O’Sullivan, the new world No.4 said: “Can I win a World Championship at 50, who knows?
“Let’s see, let’s have an experiment.” ‘HAVING A CRACK’: Skipper Caelan Doris
THERE is no truth in the rumours there will be a heavy Garda and stewards presence at the entrances to Hill 16, denying entry to those who cannot produce a utility bill with a Dublin address.
For Hill 16 hasn't seen much like this before as, imagine, people from Wicklow and Carlow, Westmeath and Longford – and don't forget Laois for over a century – will be able to cheer on their side, maybe see a win.
Sure, people from Mayo can even take a peek, that's their Caelan Doris, a proud Mayo man, proud Breaffy under-age star, captaining the home side.
Moreover, the Mayo collectives need not fear any shambolic 'curse' or unctious superstition - Aidan O'Shea's braves were semi-final winners at Croke Park as recently as 2020, a thrilling extra-time encounter with the Dubs ending 0-17 to 0-14.
Parallel
Doris, the Breaffy part of him understanding just what it means to be there, the Blackrock College part of him wondering if he is living in a parallel universe, likes both sides of the coin.
“The Hill?" says Doris. "I’ve