SOUTH Essex has seen a number of up-andcoming sportsmen and women make names for themselves in the past 12 months, but one of our stars has been at the peak of his profession now for almost two decades.

Stuart Bingham has quite a CV. He turned professional in 1995 before becoming the English Amateur and World Amateur Snooker Champion.

Ten years later he broke into the world’s top 32 and he hasn’t looked back – climbing as high as number four.

He has made two maximum 147 breaks in professional matches and won two major tournaments – the 2011 Australian Goldfields Open and the 2012 Premier League.

But Bingham, who lives in Vange with his wife, son and stepdaughter, is not satisfied with that.

Currently number 11 in the world, the 38-year-old said he wanted to add to those two titles this year, having enjoyed an indifferent start to the season.

“It has been a bit up-anddown so far this year for m e . ”

admitted Bingham.

“But I think it is only a matter of time before I come good.

“I reached the last-16 in the Wuxi Classic (held in China in May), and the Riga Open (in Latvia) and the quarter-finals at the Australian Open (in July), where I was beaten 5-4 by Mark Davis, so there have been signs of improvement.”

Bingham struggled at the Paul Hunter Classic in Germany last month, where world number 83 Fraser Patrick beat him in the first round.

Although he said his preparation for the tournament wasn’t ideal.

“I decided to drive to Germany which didn’t work out too well for me,” he said. “It took me about 11 hours to drive there and around 10 hours on the way back – so it wasn’t the most enjoyable tournament or journey for me.”

“I then went to the 6 Red World Championship and played pretty well. I made the quarter finals before John Higgins knocked me out.

“It was good preparation for the Shanghai Masters and I feel like I am hitting the ball pretty well.”

Bingham has struggled at the tournament in the past, which begins for him today, with his best finish to date a quarter final finish two years ago.

And he feels the conditions and jetlag could be his biggest danger in China, having only arrived from Thailand at the weekend.

“Shanghai is one of the better Chinese tournaments, but the conditions are going to be very difficult,” he said. “It will be around 32 degrees which is not helpful for the players at all. It makes the playing conditions quite heavy, but hopefully the table will run nice.

“Saying that, both players have to put up with the same so, although it will be hard work, I hope I can put in a good show.

“I am still jetlagged after playing in Thailand so I need to try to get some sleep in preparation for this tournament.

When you are only getting four or five hours sleep a night, everything seems to get on your nerves, but I need to get over that and play my game.”

Bingham is familiar with his first round opponent, Li Hang, and says he needs to focus on his own game.

“I have played Li Hang before in the final of an Asian event and beat him 4-3, so it was a close run match,” he said.

“I have to just stick to my game and take each one at a time. I need to focus on my strengths and I can progress.”

Bingham would face Dominic Dale in the second round if he wins today and Bingham wants to show he means business this season, and is eyeing the top prize in Shanghai.

“I want to win a tournament,”

He said. “There are about 30 events a season now, so if I can win a few of those I will be doing quite well. It doesn’t matter what tournament it is, but I want to win every one.”

Bingham also said he couldn’t wait to see 2010 Shanghai Masters winner Ali Carter, his fellow Essex professional, back in action.

Carter was diagnosed with lung cancer in May, having only fought back from testicular cancer last year but announced last week he would be back in action at the Bulgaria Open at the start of October.

Bingham said: “Ali Carter comes back soon and that is great news for everyone associated with the game. He has such outstanding fighting qualities and that is reflected in his game, as well as how he has continued to battle this illness.

“We are all thinking of him and it will be good to see him back in action in Bulgaria.”

Despite the busy schedule, Bingham is looking forward to a break from the game, so he can spend some time with his family.

Although it is unlikely to be a break from sport, as his son is showing sign of following in his dad’s footsteps.

“I will be heading back to Basildon after this and I must say I am looking forward to it,” said Bingham, who is also a keen golfer. “I might even take a week off so I can spend a bit of time with my wife, my son and my stepdaughter.

“My son Shae is really into sports at the moment. He has only just turned three, but he has just got his first basketball and is kicking the ball around with his left foot, so we may have another sportsman in the family in the future.

“I was very sporty at his age and he seems to be following in my footsteps. And my step-daughter Tegan (Herbing) is growing up really fast as well, so it will be nice to spend time with them and (wife) Michelle.”

Bingham also praised the emerging snooker talent coming through in the county, which has become a hotbed of talent for the sport.

“You only have to look at some of the names to come out of south Essex to realise snooker is thriving in this part of the country.

“Vic Harris is from Westcliff, Judd Trump lives in Chigwell along with Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ali Carter is local and we have some exciting young talents coming through too.

“Zac Surety (from Langdon Hills), Ryan Causton (from Southend), and Allan Taylor (from Southend) are also coming through so watch out for those guys.”