Bingham wants to sign off with wins in the big leagues

“I am still enjoying my game though it is a bit more harder to travel around as it means staying away from my family, especially the two kids,” said the Englishman, who makes it a point that his endeavour has always been to be a role model for any young player.

The 2015 World Champion says that he can still go strong for another five to 10 years.

At 41, Stuart Bingham, a former world champion, is a force to reckon with as he moves around with a touch of class in the venue of the ongoing fourth Indian Open world- ranking snooker tournament at Novotel Hotel here on Tuesday.

The Scotsman says that he can still go strong for another five to 10 years. “I have enjoyed my journey so far and wish to sign off with a few memorable wins in the big league,” said Bingham.

“I am still enjoying my game though it is a bit more harder to travel around as it means staying away from my family, especially the two kids,” said the Englishman, who makes it a point that his endeavour has always been to be a role model for any young player.

Talking about the rise in popularity of the sport “Yes, the level of the game is so high and with so many players emerging from countries such as China and Thailand. It is really a global sport now,” he said to another query.

Bingham, who has the rare distinction of winning World championships both as an amateur and as a professional, doesn’t believe that there is a threat to the 15-red format of snooker despite the growing popularity for the other formats.

On the prospect of cue sports being part of the summer Olympics, “Yes, I hope snooker to be included in the Olympics. This talk has been going on for a while and I wish one day my son will play in the Olympics,” he said.

This year’s competition will be Bingham’s third tryst having participated in 2013 and 2016. “It is always a great experience to play in the Indian Open because of the excellent facilities for the players and also the hospitality. There is so much of fun playing here.”

On India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani, Bingham said that the Indian has the mind and the touch to be a champion performer but might need that power of the cue. “But his achievements have already been truly remarkable at the highest level,” he said.

Bingham also has the honour of having a football stadium named after him by his home town club Basildon United in Essex (UK).

“Yes, it was a huge honour when the stadium was named after me. They just asked me whether they can use my name after me after I won the world title (in 2015) as my home town did not have any world champions. I also felt it would be good publicity for me,” said Bingham.