STUART Bingham claims he is slowly recapturing his world title-winning mentality after sealing a last-32 place at the UK Snooker Championship in York.

The Basildon cueman saw off Anthony Hamilton 6-3 at the Barbican Centre this afternoon in a high-quality encounter which included a tournament-high break of 143 in the final frame.

The 39-year-old also racked up breaks of 71, 77 and 68 – while Hamilton scored a 135 and 99 – before attacking intent, potting a risky brown and opening the reds, led to his 143 in the last.

And Bingham, while not at his fluent best, was pleased with a positive display that bore some similarities to the performances that saw him win the World Championship back in May.

“Anthony’s a class act but it was a good start, he made a 50-odd break but I was lucky enough to get a chance and make an important clearance,” he said.

“He made a good century to go 1-1 and I don’t know how I managed to get 3-1 up – it felt like he had most of the table-time -–but then he missed the chance to go 3-3.

“I nicked that frame and made a good 60-odd break to go clear then, even though he won the next, the 143 was the perfect finish.

“I potted the first red and ended low on the brown but my head wasn’t in a good spot really and I was looking to tuck-up behind the yellow.

“But then I was thinking at the World Championship I would have just potted that brown straight away so I made my mind up, potted it, got position in the reds and it was a nice finish.”

Bingham, who’s been a course of antibiotics for a cough, is now happy for a rest before a compelling third round clash, where he’ll play either Peter Ebdon or Dominic Dale.

“Whoever I play is going to be tough, Peter’s a former world champion and UK champion, and Dominic is a great player so I’m going to have to play better again to win,” he added.

“The thing is you know what you’re getting with both players, Dominic can blow anyone off the table when he’s on song, and Peter will stay there all day to get a result.”

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