Stuart Bingham makes three tons in three frames to bury Sam Baird's Beijing hopes

ByEurosport

Updated 29/03/2016 at 16:10 GMT

Stuart Bingham showed signs of the form that helped him win the world title 10 months ago by helping himself to three straight centuries in a 5-3 win over fellow Englishman Sam Baird in the China Open first round.

Having contributed only 31 points as Baird ran in 48 and 50 in moving 2-0 clear, Bingham suddenly clicked into gear with a blistering burst as knocks of 78, 143, 119 and 109 carried the world champion 4-2 ahead and within sight of the last 32.

A knock of 66 by Baird held Bingham up before he controlled a scrappy eight frame to fall over the finishing line.

“I played with freedom and produced some good snooker,” said Bingham, who lost 10-9 to Shaun Murphy in the World Grand Prix final.

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“I felt a bit tight towards the end so it was good to get over the line. I came out to China early and played a couple of exhibition matches so that has helped me, even though I am not sleeping great.

I’ve got a chance of finishing the season at world number one and maybe that’s why I’ve struggled a bit this year. It would be great to do that. If I can get to the quarter-finals here that would be a good week.

He will face Ian Burns for a quarter-final spot after the world number 70 thumped 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon 5-0 boosted by a run of 135.

German Masters champion Martin Gould suffered a surprise 5-0 loss to China's 15-year-old amateur Yuan Sijun, who ran in 51, 102 and 55 in overwhelming Gould.

“I felt good in general and my opponent left chances for me so I managed to make some decent breaks,” said Yuan. “My coach told me that I needed to work on clearing the colours and long potting and I think it worked.

“My parents are not with me here because their presence would have made me nervous, which has happened before. Two wins in a row is a breakthrough for me.”

2011 China Open winner Judd Trump progressed without potting a ball after Stuart Carrington was forced to withdraw due to illness.

World champion Bingham shines with sparkling run of 119

Trump will meet Jimmy Robertson in the last 32.

The China Open is the penultimate ranking event before the World Championship begins at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre on April 16.

Ryan Day is among the men who could yet force his way into the top 16 players who qualify for the Crucible if he reaches the final in Beijing.

The Welshman was a 5-4 victor over Dechawat Poomjaeng of Thailand to move into the second round.

Michael White and Ding Junhui, 15th and 16th in the world respectively, are the two men at risk of dropping out of the top 16 after losing on Monday, and could face three exacting qualifying rounds to reach the last 32 as qualifiers in Sheffield unless results go for them this week.

Bingham produces lovely knock of 143 on way to victory

China Open latest results

Tuesday, March 29

First Round (best of nine frames)

Rhys Clark (Sco) 5-4 Mark Davis (Eng)

Anthony McGill (Sco) 3-5 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)

Joe Swail (NI) 2-5 Martin O'Donnell (Eng)

Mark King (Eng) 5-2 Ali Carter (Eng)

Ryan Day (Wal) 5-4 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)

Tom Ford (Eng) 3-5 Kyren Wilson (Eng)

Judd Trump (Eng) W/O Stuart Carrington (Eng)

Monday, March 28

Final qualifying Round (best of nine frames)

Liang Wenbo (Chn) 2-5 Peter Lines (Eng)

Stuart Bingham (Eng) 5-0 Cao Yupeng (Chn)

Ding Junhui (Chn) 1-5 Lee Walker (Wal)

Wildcard Round (best of nine frames)

Andrew Higginson (Eng) 3-5 Yuan Sijun (Chn)

Martin O'Donnell (Eng) 5-0 Wang Yuchen (Chn)

Ian Burns (Eng) 5-3 Guan Zhen (Chn)

Tian Pengfei (Chn) 5-1 Niu Zhuang (Chn)

First Round (best of nine frames)

Jamie Jones (Wal) 1-5 Dominic Dale (Wal)

Michael White (Wal) 1-5 Jack Lisowski (Eng)

Robert Milkins (Eng) 5-4 Ross Muir (Sco)

Graeme Dott (Sco) 5-1 Matthew Stevens (Wal)

Gerard Greene (NI) 1-5 David Gilbert (Eng)

Stephen Maguire (Sco) 5-3 Gary Wilson (Eng)

Alfie Burden (Eng) 5-0 Joe Perry (Eng)

Neil Robertson (Aus) 3-5 Noppon Saengkham (Tha)

Zhou Yuelong (Chn) 2-5 John Higgins (Sco)

Mike Dunn (Eng) 5-4 Alan McManus (Sco)

Rory McLeod (Eng) 5-0 Mitchell Mann (Eng)

Chris Wakelin (Eng) 4-5 Matthew Selt (Eng)

Mark Joyce (Eng) 5-2 Luca Brecel (Bel)

Michael Holt (Eng) 5-2 Nigel Bond (Eng)

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