Dott gets better of Bingham

14 April 2012

Graeme Dott needed all of his fighting qualities to down Stuart Bingham on the opening day of the Malta Cup.

The world champion was far from his best form against the Basildon player at the Hilton Conference Centre in Portomaso.

But despite trailing 3-2 in the pair's last 32 clash, it was Scot Dott who dug deepest to progress and take a step closer to this year's £30,000 winners' cheque.

The world number six pocketed breaks of 73, 56 and 43 to make sure of his place in the next round, where he will now meet with either Nottingham's Anthony Hamilton or Leicester's Tom Ford in the last 16 on Wednesday.

"I played OK," said Dott. "It was a massive turning point to get back to 2-2. I had a really big fluke and, at the time, I thought the match was turning in his favour.

"But after going 3-2 down I played a lot better. I'd love to do well here, it's a great tournament."

Bingham, who has been in rich form of late having qualified for last month's SAGA Insurance Masters and more recently the China Open, had breaks of 54, 52 and 68 to push Dott hard.

But last season's Crucible winner was not to be beaten and, after a long safety battle in the eighth-and-deciding frame, edged his way over the winning line.

"It's a very, very tough first-round match to be drawn against Stuart, so I'm delighted to have won," added Dott.

"He has done well recently, qualifying for the Masters and also for the China Open, so he has certainly found a good run of form.

"I thought the match was slipping away, but I made sure I didn't throw it away."

Meanwhile, local favourite Joe Grech - one of two Maltese wildcards for this year's £200,500 event - failed to deliver in front of his home supporters.

He was beaten 5-1 by Derbyshire's David Roe, the world number 56, although it was not pretty snooker.

Roe had breaks of 42 and 46 - the highest of the match - but that was good enough for the four-time ranking event quarter-finalist, who moved into the last 32 stage.

Next up for the 41-year-old is a best-of-nine-frames clash with UK champion Peter Ebdon on Monday afternoon.

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