Stuart Bingham Holds his Nerve to Defy the Odds by Beating Shaun Murphy 18-15 to Win Snooker World Championships
- Stuart Bingham defeated Shaun Murphy 18-15 in World Championship final
- Bingham had trailed Murphy 8-4 before coming back to lead 14-11 heading into the final session
- Murphy won four of the opening five frames to level the score at 15-15
- Bingham came through a titanic 31st frame lasting 63mins to regain lead
- The 38-year-old is the third oldest champion in tournament's history
- There were tears again. Stuart Bingham wanted to keep his cool but the moment was too powerful, as realisation dawned. Just before 11pm, his life’s ambition had come true.
Daily Mail UK, 4 May 2015
The Crucible Theatre had just witnessed one of the best finals in the history of the BetFred World Snooker Championships but, more than anything, they had seen a fairy tale come true, as the 38-year-old from Basildon saw off Shaun Murphy 18-15.
It is 30 years since 18million viewers tuned in to see Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis go to the final black and for long periods in the best of 35 contest, it appeared as if Bingham – a 50-1 shot when the tournament started – and Murphy would do the same, as the contest ebbed and flowed.
Stuart Bingham holds aloft the World Championships trophy after his dramatic final victory
The 38-year-old pumps his fist after winning the final frame in a 18-15 victory over Shaun Murphy
Bingham poses with the trophy after holding his nerve to win the title at the 15th time of asking
Murphy (left) was gracious in defeat as he shakes hands with Bingham after the final frame
Bingham poses with his family after becoming the third oldest winner the tournament's history
Ultimately, though, this was Bingham’s night. Having been pegged back to 15-15, he held his nerve in frame 31 – which lasted 63 tension-filled minutes – forcing a 38 points of mistakes out of his opponent to take the lead and then showing class to see out the final two frames.
This was a remarkable performance from someone who had previously not got further than the last eight but, given he had disposed of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump on the way to the final – victories that left him weeping with joy – it was no fluke.
When it got to 15-15, I thought my chance had gone,’ said Bingham, who collected a cheque for £300,000. ‘It felt like my arm belonged to somebody else. We went through a marathon and I was just able to pinch it. It is unbelievable. I really can’t believe this has happened to me.
‘You dream about things like this when you are a kid but now it has become reality. I got through the first round and I just kept going from strength to strength. Sometimes your name is on the trophy and I know from my game against Judd that he could have been sitting here instead.
Bingham entered the final session leading 14-11 against the 2005 world champion
Shaun Murphy grimaces as he watches the title slip away from him, despite pulling back to 15-15
Bingham looks sheepish as he asks to take a toilet break during a mammonth 63minute frame
‘I was thinking loads of things when the final started, I felt overwhelmed but there came point when I thought to myself “yeah, I can do this”. I just want to make sure now that I am a good role model as World Champion. I am proof that if you stick at it, that your dream come true.’
More than anything, he played like a dream. The afternoon session yesterday belonged to Bingham and he displayed the poise you would associate a Champion: head still, cue moving effortlessly and pockets being found with unerring accuracy.
Resuming play trailing 9-8, Bingham swiftly restored parity and then began to move relentlessly clear, taking every chance Murphy gave him to score heavily. Before the first interval, Bingham had rattled off four unanswered frames as his opponent sat forlornly in his chair.
Here was a role reversal. When the final began on Sunday, there were moments when Murphy looked like he was ready to blow Bingham away and, perhaps, administer the kind of thrashing he had received at the hands of O’Sullivan 12 months ago.
Such was his confidence, Bingham even raised the prospect of a first maximum when he sank 14 reds and blacks before his dream of a 147 was extinguished by a tight red on the cushion. The 112 he amassed was still significant as it was the 85th century break of this tournament, a record.
Murphy stemmed the tide by claiming two of the next three frames with breaks of 59 and 87 but it seemed Bingham had struck a significant blow when emerging on top in frame 25 – both men made serious, uncharacteristic errors but Bingham kept cool long enough to get the job done.
Murphy slumps in his chair as Bingham wins eight of nine frames during the afternoon session
Bingham is the oldest first time finalist at the World Championships since Ray Reardon
When they returned for the final session, however, it seemed as if the thinking time – and the realisation of what he might achieve – had got to Bingham. His first shot of frame 26 was a complete miss, while his second was as scruffy as a novice and left a chalk mark on the baize.
Suddenly the momentum was with Murphy, a winner here in 2005, and when he levelled in frame 30, only one outcome appeared likely. It was to Bingham’s credit, then, that he quarried deep into his reservoirs of courage and got over the line with a final break of 88.
‘It’s funny, I will probably feel the disappointment tomorrow,’ said Murphy. ‘But, you know, I am delighted for Stuart. He is one of the nicest guys you could meet. He played like a winner all through the match. He loves snooker and he fully deserves this.’