Ex-snooker world champion to 'roll the dice' with surgery in bid to prolong career
Stuart Bingham is set to undergo eye surgery in an attempt to prolong his career at the highest level of snooker. The 2015 world champion is planning on having a lens replacement operation this month.
The 49-year-old has dropped down to 21st in the world rankings and is hopeful that fixing his eyesight could extend his time at the top. After exiting the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in Jeddah having lost a final-frame decider against Elliot Slessor in the last 16, Bingham revealed he had 'tried everything else' as his eyesight deteriorates.
The veteran snooker ace, who only has fewer maximum breaks than Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Shaun Murphy, has put emphasis on his health in recent times. Bingham lost three-and-a-half stone earlier this year after taking weekly fat-loss injections and has seen his cue placement change.
But Bingham is hopeful that an improvement in his sight can offer some rejuvination in his snooker abilities. Though, his plan hasn't come without a little dig from Judd Trump.
"I'm getting my eyes sorted out," Bingham said. 'I spoke to Judd Trump about it and he said he had laser surgery – where lens replacement is for old people. I said: 'You cheeky sod.'
'It's getting to a point where I have tried everything else and I have noticed the last 3-4 months, my eyes are getting worse. It might be down to a lack of confidence.
'Hopefully it will be the key I am trying to unlock.
'It's like throwing a dice really. It is only going to help my life away from the table. I know Anthony Hamilton had it done, however many years ago.
'Hopefully I will roll the dice and it will come good for me. This season has not been great. I'm trying to find my game. I have a new cue. But I'm still twitching a bit here and there. It's hard to get that confidence."
Bingham has also battled with the yips this year. The ex-Masters champion has worked with hypnotherapist Chris O'Connor in a bid to resolve the issue.
Speaking in March, Bingham said: ""When I played Mark Selby last week it was very prominent," he told WST. "I felt tight in my back arm. And in other matches I was jabbing at certain shots. But, the balls were going in.
"I don't know whether it will be better next week (for the Players' Championship). You would think that winning matches gives me confidence and that would help, but sometimes it just turns up."
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