Classy Bingham claims World Snooker Championship exit was down to ’embarrassing’ display – despite having perfect excuse
STUART BINGHAM has revealed his World Championship exit was down to an “embarrassing display” against Jak Jones.
Jones defeated Bingham 17-12 in yesterday’s semi-final to book a clash with Kyren Wilson.
Bingham, 47, insisted that he had not been good enough throughout the match and failed to replicate the form that saw him knockout Ronnie O’Sullivan.
He said: “I must have given eight frames away.
“I must have missed eight or nine blacks off the spot.
“I’m very disappointed, after playing like I did against Ronnie. I just didn’t enjoy it out there.
“Too many mistakes. Even going back to the fourth frame, missing a blue, it summed up the match really.
“Missing too many easy balls, gave him too many easy starts – just an embarrassing performance on my part.”
But the Basildon-born star could have excused his performance after he missed a crucial shot in the 29th frame as a fan was heard coughing in the crowd.
Bingham was lining up a shot on the brown, which he needed to sink to have any hope of beating Jones at the Crucible.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Jones was one frame away from booking his spot in the final against Kyren Wilson and well on top in the frame.
But as Bingham took his shot, a cough could be heard from the crowd which referee Marcel Eckardt later suggested caused the 47-year-old to miss his shot.
Eckardt then stopped the game to approach the crowd asking who the coughing culprit was.
Eckardt later apologised to snooker fans who did not understand why the match was delayed.
Jones will now face Wilson in the final, after The Warrior’s 17-11 win over David Gilbert.
