Snooker: First world title means 'everything' to Basildon's Stuart Bingham

The 38-year-old from Basildon beat Shaun Murphy 18-15 in a nail-biting final to finally win the sport's top prize 15 years after making his debut in the championship.

"Wow," Bingham said. "At one stage there at 15-all I thought I was going to do Shaun's speech, all commiserations.

"I think it was a 63-minute frame and to go 16-15 up, that changed everything. It calmed me down. Unbelievable. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

Asked if he could sum up what it meant after 20 years of trying he added: "Everything.

"Twenty years as a pro. Blood, sweat, and tears, on the road, qualifying in places like Prestatyn and Malvern, places like that. Everything rolled into one, so many family and friends backing me, it's just been unbelievable."

Murphy, while disappointed, was full of praise for Bingham.

Stuart Bingham celebrates his victory with his family and friends

"It's been a great fortnight for me," he said. "It's not finished the way I wanted it to.

"I came here well prepared and gave it my best as I always do and to come up against an inspired Stuart Bingham, who's beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan and others to get here, sometimes your name is just on the trophy.

"As a snooker geek like Stuart, there is not a player alive who deserves it more than him."

Murphy added: "He played like a winner all the way through the match.

"Sometimes in sport people are meant to win things. He loves snooker more than life itself.

"He fully deserved to win this tournament and although I'm disappointed to lose I'm happy for him and his family.

Stuart Bingham lines up a pot on a red on his way to the world crown

"I can have no regrets. I think I played some really great stuff during this championship. There can only be one winner and it wasn't me.

"Stuart will be a bit dazed and a bit confused, it'll sink in over the next few days what he's achieved.

"When I won I went from complete obscurity to people stopping me in garages and garden centres."