World Snooker Championship final: Ball Run Bingham battles Murphy

It took Stuart Bingham until 22:25 BST the night before the World Snooker Championship final takes place to book his spot in this year’s clash for the Crucible crown with 2005 winner Shaun Murphy.

The Essex cueman, nicknamed “Ball Run”, has relished underdog status to reach uncharted territory for the first time in his 20-year career on the baize, and he enjoys similar billing again at 2/1 with Coral to be world champion.

Odds were against Bingham beating Ronnie O’Sullivan, but he did 13-9 in the quarters, and again when tackling Judd Trump in the semis, yet he came through a deciding frame despite a fightback. He’s done remarkably well to even reach the final.

While punters count Ball Run out at their peril, there is no denying an epic 33-frame last four fixture with Trump will have taken its toll, and “the Magician” Murphy certainly reached this stage more easily by battering Barry Hawkins 17-9.

Murphy is odds-on at 2/5 to win the World Snooker Championship for the second time in his career, having done so a decade ago as a qualifier. The Northamptonshire native has enjoyed a magnificent second half of the season, finally ending his wait to complete the career triple crown in snooker when he lifted the Masters back in January.

The Magician has often turned out before the Crucible crowd in a red and gold waistcoat throughout this year’s tournament (pictured above), and features in a 6/4 special to don this outfit again for the final.

A superior Crucible century breaks tally this term (11-6) and strong head-to-head advantage (10-2) over Bingham means Murphy is a worthy favourite, yet his path to the final saw him avoid facing any previous winner.