'Bring on' Ding Junhui, says Stuart Bingham
Last updated on .From the section Snooker
Stuart Bingham is in bullish mood ahead of his World Championship second-round match with world number four Ding Junhui on Sunday.
Bingham, from Essex, put in a determined display to edge out Peter Ebdon in the first round while Ding swept aside Jamie Burnett 10-2.
"It's all to play for," 34-year-old Bingham told BBC Sport.
"A few people may be intimidated by the way Ding plays, but bring it on, I'm ready for him."
Bingham, whose form over the last 12 months has seen him climb from 29th to 20th in the world, knows victory over the much fancied Chinese cueman could boost his ranking.
"I think I might need to win that match to get into the top 16," he explained.
"So it's a big game, I've never been past the second round at Sheffield.
"People are tipping him as a champion this year, it will be a tough game.
"I've played him a few times and it's been a good battle.
"He beat me 5-4 in China once, he fluked a brown, I can remember it well."
And Bingham added that success at the Crucible would be coupled with positive news in his personal life.
"My fiancee's got a 20-week scan and we'll find out whether baby Bingham will be a boy or girl," he said.
"So it's just summed up a very good week and a good year."
