BASILDON snooker star Stuart Bingham has revealed how pounding out the miles on a running machine was the secret to his marathon 888.com World Championship first round win over Steve Davis.

The 31-year-old was involved in a titanic late-night struggle with fellow Essex player Davis at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, where the Nugget has lifted the famous trophy six times.

The Brentwood-based veteran, now 50, looked all washed up when trailling 8-3 in the best-of-19 match before launching a remarkable comeback to level at 8-8.

However crucial mistakes, allied to Bingham's healthy frame of mind, allowed the new towner to nick the 17th frame before closing out the match with a fine break of 59 to win 10-8.

"Being successful at snooker is not all about practising on the table these days," Bingham told the Echo.

"I did think about staying up at the Crucible, but my next match with Graeme Dott or Joe Perry doesn't start until Sunday afternoon.

"I've come back home where I'll be able to sleep in my own bed and spend a few hours on the running machine I've had installed for a couple of years.

"I'll also be spending time at the David Lloyd Fitness Centre in Basildon where they've kindly given me membership.

"I honestly think that my general fitness helped me get through the match."

While happy with his own performance, Bingham also paid tribute to the tenacity of Davis - a player he has still never lost to.

"Steve's comeback was remarkable and illustrates just what a great champion he is," he added.

"When he knocked a black off the table for me to go 8-3 up, I looked up at my old snooker mate Brian Salmon in the audience and mouthed Davis has gone'.

"As soon as I said it I knew in my mind that I shouldn't have. For the next few hours I hardly got a look in."

"It was very hard to compose myself. At 8-8 I was thinking What's happening here? It's all going pear-shaped'.

"My manager Gary Purkiss told me to get out and wash my face and compose myself, so I did what I was told."

The 17th frame saw both players missing numerous chances before Davis' mistakes on the final blue, pink and black gifted it to Bingham.

"When he left the black over the pocket for me it was like all my Christmases and birthdays being rolled into one," he laughed.

Bingham also drew plaudits for his natty red shirt from BBC commentator Hazel Irvine, who labelled it "Tiger's last-day shirt" in honour of the colour Tiger Woods traditionally sports on the final day of a golf tournament.

And he has promised another fashion statement in his second round match - victory in which could take him into the sport's hallowed top-16 for the first time.

"I've got plenty of other colours. I've got a bright orange shirt I may wear for the next round," he warned.