BASILDON snooker professional Stuart Bingham will have little time to dwell on his Saga Insurance Masters first round defeat at the hands of Essex colleague Ali Carter.

The Tiptree man won the best of 11 frames encounter 6-5 in a near four hour marathon at Wembley Arena late on Sunday night.

"I've got to play one qualifier at Pontin's Prestatyn next week to earn the right to take on Steve Davis in the China Open," admitted Bingham.

"To be honest I said beforehand that I would gladly swap beating Ali for winning that qualifier."

Straight after next week's date, Bingham flies out for the Malta Cup, where he faces a tough start to his challenge with a match against reigning world champ Graeme Dott.

Full story in today's Echo.