STUART BINGHAM says he will not be underestimating Mark Joyce ahead of their opening match at the Coral Scottish Open tomorrow (December 12).
World No 2 Bingham is ranked 43 places above Joyce (pictured) but feels the Walsall-based potter, 33, will provide a tough start at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
Bingham said: “Mark is a good guy and he has come and stayed and practised with me before, so I know he is well capable.
“He is one of those players just outside the top 32 who is perhaps a bit underrated so I won’t be underestimating him, as he is another dangerous player on the Tour.
“But I am looking forward to flying up to Scotland and hopefully I can give another good account of myself.
“My wife Michelle is due to give birth over the next few weeks so that will be on my mind a bit of course – and I might have to jump on a plane at short notice! But I will just try to stay focused and go deep into the tournament.”
Bingham booked his spot at February’s German Masters at the Berlin Tempodrom by coming through qualifying in Barnsley last week.
Ballrun saw off Alfie Burden (5-2) in the first round then Yu Delu (5-3) on Friday evening.
It offered a measure of revenge for Bingham over the 29-year-old Chinese star who recorded a shock 6-4 win over the Basildon pro a fortnight ago at the Betway UK Championship in York.
Bingham said: “He started strongly and I was thinking ‘here we go again’. But I kept calm and managed to go in at the break at 2-2 and that gave me a lift.
“It was not pretty but I got the job done. Now I am looking forward to my trip to Berlin where it always seems to snow when we go there for this tournament. I booked my hotel this morning.”
