Stuart Bingham
A late-blooming snooker journeyman who defied the odds to capture the sport's ultimate prize in his late thirties.
Born 1976 (age 50)·English snooker player·Birthday: May 21·Generation X
Biography
For nearly two decades, Stuart Bingham was the definition of a snooker professional: skilled, dedicated, but perpetually on the fringes of the sport's elite. Turning professional in 1995, he spent years grinding through qualifying rounds, a respected player known more for his consistency than his trophies. The narrative of the perennial nearly-man shifted dramatically in his mid-thirties. A first ranking title in Australia in 2011 finally propelled him into the world's top 16. Then, in 2015, at the age of 38, 'Ball-run' Bingham authored one of snooker's great underdog stories. Seizing his chance at the Crucible Theatre, he played the tournament of his life to become the World Snooker Champion, defeating the game's biggest names. His victory was a triumph of perseverance, proving that a lifetime of honing one's craft could culminate in the sport's brightest spotlight.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Stuart was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stuart Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Stuart's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Crowned World Snooker Champion in 2015, defeating Shaun Murphy 18-15 in the final at the Crucible Theatre.
- Won the Masters tournament in 2020, one of snooker's prestigious 'Triple Crown' events.
- Captured his first professional ranking title at the 2011 Australian Goldfields Open, a breakthrough victory after 16 years as a pro.
- Made a maximum 147 break at the 2012 World Championship, a rare feat on the sport's biggest stage.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Ball-run' is a playful reference to both his surname and the element of luck in snooker.
He worked as a fruit and vegetable vendor at his brother's market stall before his snooker career took off.
Bingham is an avid darts fan and has been known to practice with professional darts players.
“I've spent more hours in snooker clubs than most people have spent in their own homes.”
