STUART Bingham says he is not thinking about a potential second round clash with fellow Essex man Ali Carter, after he begun his World Open campaign today.

The 40-year-old took on Stuart Carrington in the first round of the competition at Yushan, in China, in the early hours of this morning with the winner to take on either Carter or Mike Dunn, who play tomorrow.

The last time Bingham and Carter came face-to-face was in the World Championship, where Carter knocked the then defending champion out at the Crucible.

But Bingham said his focus is on the ‘dangerous’ Carrington, as he looks to secure his first ranking title since the World Championship back in May 2015.

“I have played him a couple of times but he is one of the young lads and he is starting to get results,” he said. “I will have to be good. He is one who is giving people problems.

“You don’t want to be presumptuous. I know the draw and I saw Ali was a potential opponent after Stuart but I need to get there first and so does Ali. My main focus is on that.

“If we don’t get through then the match will never happen.”

Bingham went out to China a week ago to prepare for the competition, playing a number of matches in an invitational tournament.

This followed his move from Pitsea to Bowers Gifford, where he also managed to get some practice in on his own snooker table.

However, Bingham is also quite at home in China, so much so that some of the locals have asked him whether he speaks the language fluently.

“I have seen a lot of China as I have been coming here for the last 15 years and I know how to say the important things,” he said. “Some of the people think I can speak Chinese fluently as I apparently pronounce words well.

“I love the food and the culture here so it is always a pleasure coming back.

“I have got some good practice in ahead of this tournament after the house move so things are going well.

“I have the table at home now after it was put in 10 days ago and I got a few days practice on it and was hitting the ball well.

“I am looking forward to getting underway now.”

Basildon’s Allan Taylor is also in action in China, where he does battle with Welshman Ryan Day.