Stuart Bingham secures place at 2024 World Snooker Championship with qualifying win

Former World Snooker Champion Stuart Bingham has secured his spot at the 2024 World Championship after a tense 10-8 victory over Louis Heathcote in the last qualifying round. Bingham, who won the title in 2015, had to fight back from behind to secure his place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

In other qualifying matches, Jack Lisowski defeated Matthew Stevens 10-3, while Stephen Maguire of Scotland beat China’s Yuan Sijun 10-6. Wales’ Jak Jones also had an impressive victory, winning eight frames in a row to beat China’s Zhou Yuelong 10-4.

Veteran Dominic Dale, 52, made a remarkable comeback to reach the Crucible for the first time in 10 years with a 10-8 win over China’s He Guoqiang. However, Mark Davis was not as fortunate, losing in a deciding frame to Ricky Walden.

Reflecting on his victory, Dale expressed his astonishment at making it to the prestigious event, stating, “I couldn’t have dreamed at my age of ever getting there.” He credited his success to his ability to stay calm under pressure and deliver when it mattered most.

Looking ahead to the tournament, Bingham expressed confidence in his game, stating, “I’ll be a danger for anyone.” With the top 16 in the world rankings automatically qualifying for the event, the draw for the first round will take place soon, with 16 qualifiers joining them in the competition.

As the final eight qualifiers are set to be decided, anticipation is building for the 2024 World Snooker Championship, with players like Neil Robertson and Jamie Jones set to compete for a chance to lift the prestigious trophy. Stay tuned for more updates on the BBC Sport website and app.