Stuart Bingham won Group 2 of the 2023 BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational at the Morningside Arena, Leicester to wrap up snooker for 2022.
The group final saw Bingham up against Robert Milkins, with a place in the Winners’ Group in February up for grabs. Milkins got off to a flyer with a break of 95 but Bingham responded with a clearance of 139 to level at 1-1. In frame three, Milkins made 31 before Bingham took his chance to lead for the first time with a break of 67. And the fourth followed a similar pattern as Bingham recovered a 41-0 deficit to clear with 77 and seal victory.
“I didn’t come here with a lot of confidence,” admitted former World Champion Bingham. “It didn’t look good this morning after losing to Matthew Selt 3-0. I thought something has to change and something has to click. From there, I started to make century after century. I am delighted to win the Group.
“This is a great tournament in itself. It will give me a lot of confidence. I haven’t been at my best for the last couple of months. To come here and produce what I have the last few days does pick me up for the rest of the season. I missed out on the Champion of Champions last year in the decider against John Higgins (in last year’s Championship League Invitational final). It hurt seeing it on TV. I am trying to pick my game up to win something and hopefully, it can be this.”
Earlier in the semi-finals, Bingham edged out Selt 3-2 while Milkins edged out Jordan Brown 3-2.
Group 3 begins on Tuesday, 3 January with Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, and Ricky Walden entering proceedings alongside, Selt, Brown, Milkins and Jamie Jones.
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The tournament carries a prize fund of £205,000 with players earning £100 per frame won with significant bonuses for their final group position and increased prize money in the Winners’ Group. A place in the 2023 Champion of Champions is also on the line.
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