STUART BINGHAM was hailed for a sporting act during his Players Championship clash with Neil Robertson.
The two former world champions faced off in Telford just nine days on from their meeting in the World Grand Prix final.
With Bingham leading 3-2, there was a potentially contentious moment.
Robertson, 43, committed a foul shot, failing to hit the red having found himself snookered.
The referee deemed Bingham to subsequently be snookered himself, awarding him a free ball.
With two extra reds having already been placed on the table, Bingham sportingly told the referee that he didn’t feel he was actually snookered and that he believed the angle was on.
This led to the ITV commentator gushing: “Bingham, every credit there in reversing his decision. That really was a sporting effort from the 2015 world champion.
As the referee removed the extra reds, he accidentally nudged the original red from its position, inadvertently creating an easier angle for Bingham.
This led to 2010 world champ Robertson laughing in his chair.
The Aussie would also go on to have the last laugh, coming from behind to win 6-4.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Having beaten Bingham 10-0 in the World Grand Prix final in Hong Kong nine days earlier, Robertson knew he would be in for a trickier task.
“Stuart started really strongly. I expected that,” Robertson admitted. “I knew after the result in the final he would come out all guns blazing and be really motivated.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Snooker star Neil Robertson celebrates his win over Stuart Bingham in the 2025 World Grand Prix Final ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370148735112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“He was looking fantastic at 3-1, but I pinched a couple of frames and turned the game in my favour,” said 43-year-old Robertson.
“I’m really proud. Starting the season my projected season was close to the 40s.
“To have already cemented my place at the Crucible shows that the hard work has paid off. It goes to show that you have to really stick at it.
“Golf has been huge as it has given me a hobby to do. It is great to spend time outside and it’s much healthier than doing gaming or things like that.
“I’ve been told to make sure my wife doesn’t become a golf widow though!
“I have to reign it in as it is quite exciting, because I’m getting quite good at it.”
Robertson will face Mark Selby in round two, after the Jester from Leicester defeated China’s Si Jiahui 6-3 on the other table.
