Stuart Bingham reveals grudge behind immense Dave Gilbert record

Stuart Bingham took his head-to-head record against Dave Gilbert to an incredible 13-0 when he beat him at the Crucible on Sunday, and revealed that he did have extra motivation against the Farmer earlier in their careers.

Gilbert started brightly in the contest, leading 3-1, but it unravelled from there as Bingham strode to a 10-4 victory and into the second round.

The result continued the remarkably one-sided record between the players, surprising given that Gilbert has been a top 16 player and a tournament winner.

The Farmer did beat Ballrun once in the past, not on the professional circuit, and it turns out that may have cost him against Bingham in the big leagues.

After picking up a 13th straight win over his foe, Bingham, 46, explained that the loss over 25 years ago to a teenage Gilbert, 41, rankled with him.

‘I remember playing (Gilbert) in a Pro-Am, I was the world amateur champion, so we are going back to 1996-97,’ Bingham explained. ‘I think we played at Willie Thorne’s club.

‘He beat me and it felt like he didn’t show me any respect. Not that he shouldn’t have done so. I just took it that way. Since then, it rubbed me up the wrong way.

‘I don’t think about that now, we just play, but especially the first few matches as a pro, I had that in the back of my head, it was driving me.

‘It is a massive record, it’s like me and Ronnie [O’Sullivan] are the only players he hasn’t beaten.’

Given he’s a former World and Masters champion, it’s not the worst bogey player to have, with Bingham admitting that he used to really struggle against Scottish former pro Drew Henry, who gave him some memorably painful defeats.

‘Drew Henry was my bogey player back in the day and I couldn’t beat him no matter what,’ said Bingham. ‘I remember losing him to him even though I was 8-6 up, 66-0, 67 on the table and he dished me up and beat me 9-8. Things that happen are unbelievable.’

Gilbert was extremely downbeat after the loss to Bingham, finishing a disappointing season with a morale-sapping defeat.

‘I am just not good enough at this level,’ he said. ‘I don’t pot enough big balls anymore. My safety is far too weak. It is disappointing because I know I am a better player but that is how I am playing, I am not very good.

‘I thought I would play better than that. At least I have some ranking points from another absolutely rubbish season.

‘Stuart probably thinks he played really well but it was like a club player versus a decent player, I was making it far too easy for him. Unless I get into my rhythm and get going, then I am alright. If I don’t, I haven’t got it in me to pot a tricky ball or play a safety. My confidence and belief isn’t there.

‘I don’t know what is going to happen when I walk out of here, I have no idea. I miss being able to play snooker to go a good level and compete with the big boys, it is disappointing, but who knows. I don’t even know if I will bother again, I don’t know. I don’t mean that in a bad manner, or sound arsey, I have just got far too much going on.

‘I don’t know when I will look at my cue again .Who knows? I might put everything back into it. I might never play again. No idea.’

Bingham plays Mark Allen or Fan Zhengyi in the second round.

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