The Crucible Curse and Stuart Bingham
In 17 days time, Stuart Bingham will become the 20th man to attempt to break snookers most notorious hodoo - the Crucible Curse.
Whether you believe in it or not (given we've had three successful defences - and in instances several times over) it still remains a sticky point for those who return to the old theatre after a rather good May the year before.
Of Stuart's 19 predecessors six promptly lost their first round match, with a further three going out in match two. Six have made the one table setup though it's not since 2002 that the first time champion achieved this.
Bingham hasn't had the best of times until coming close at Llandudno but
Joe Johnson famously had a rather torrid season as World Champion but despite predictions of being a first round casualty, came the closest anyone has come to breaking the Curse. A good run in China as World Champion doesn't necessarily mean a good run at the Crucible as World Champion - as Graeme Dott and Mark Selby both discovered.
What do you reckon Bingham's chances are? An early departure as has seemingly been the case with first time defenders in recent years? or will we see a surprise in Sheffield?
Whether you believe in it or not (given we've had three successful defences - and in instances several times over) it still remains a sticky point for those who return to the old theatre after a rather good May the year before.
Of Stuart's 19 predecessors six promptly lost their first round match, with a further three going out in match two. Six have made the one table setup though it's not since 2002 that the first time champion achieved this.
Bingham hasn't had the best of times until coming close at Llandudno but
Joe Johnson famously had a rather torrid season as World Champion but despite predictions of being a first round casualty, came the closest anyone has come to breaking the Curse. A good run in China as World Champion doesn't necessarily mean a good run at the Crucible as World Champion - as Graeme Dott and Mark Selby both discovered.
What do you reckon Bingham's chances are? An early departure as has seemingly been the case with first time defenders in recent years? or will we see a surprise in Sheffield?
Last edited by PLtheRef on 31 Mar 2016, edited 1 time in total.
- PLtheRef
- Posts: 5068
- Joined: 20 December 2009
- Location: Sheffield
- Highest Break: 28
- Walk-On: Vangelis 1492 Conquest of Paradise