Stuart Bingham is hoping the fact that he is staying at the luxurious Swallow Hotel preparing for his first-ever entry into the World Professional Snooker Champion-ship will not see his hopes take a quick dive.

The Basildon player will have a worldwide TV audience of millions watching as he gets the Year 2000 Embassy-sponsored event underway at Sheffield's famous Crucible Theatre with a first round match against seven-times champion and current holder Stephen Hendry.

It's traditional for the champ to get the proceedings underway and Bingham's best-of-19-frames match will be completed by Saturday night.

According to some you would hardly think it worthwhile the 23-year-old getting his cue out of the case with one leading tabloid describing Hendry's opening challenge as "a first round stroll."

For those who have admired the gritty way that Bingham has battled through the rankings since turning pro five years ago to earn this big chance, we know the story could have a far happier ending.

Bingham said: "To be opening the whole World Championship against a man who is certainly the greatest of the modern-day era, and possibly all time, is a dream come true.

"Having said that, it would have been better for me to not be first on. I'd loved to have gone up there and sampled the atmosphere by watching a few matches before I played myself.

"It's my first time in the world finals and, although I was up there watching last year, the atmosphere will be completely different as a player.

"I'd be stupid if I tried to make out I won't feel any nerves when the match is about to start.

"This is the first time I've ever played Hendry, but he's been an inspiration to me, and I should think everyone else who plays the game, for over a decade now."

Bingham himself, a former World and English amateur champion, has already had pro wins over the likes of former world pro champs John Parrott and John Higgins plus Nigel Bond and Tony Drago.

"I'll certainly be giving it my best shot. I've managed to make progress in each of my five years as a pro so far," Bingham added.

"I want to enjoy the whole occasion and have something which many snooker pros go their whole careers without experiencing to look back on."

Around 30 family, friends and supporters from the Basildon Snooker Centre will be going up to Sheffield to support Bingham.

Among them will be Wickford's Gary Purkiss, of GP Contractors, who has sponsored the player since he set out on the path to stardom, and Bingham's manager Joe Lazarus.

Looking for the big breaks - Basildon's Stuart Bingham takes on world champion Stephen Hendry on Saturday

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.