Stuart Bingham reacts on social media to China Open foul controversy: 'Not in the spirit of the game'

The incident in question - that has gone viral amongst the online snooker community - occurred in frame five of Bingham’s last 16 match against fellow qualifier Hossein Vafaei in Taiyuan.

Having completed a mini-session whitewash to lead 4-0 in the best of 11 frames affair, Bingham was also in front in frame five with a 60-8 points advantage. But with five reds remaining - a possible 67 points - his opponent was still in contention.

Vafaei was in a spot of bother with the cueball on the baulk cushion, and only able to directly hit one red that was placed near a middle pocket on the far side which he couldn’t cut in.

The former Shoot Out champion - who has had a very solid start to the new snooker season - played thin off that red, sending the cueball in-off into the pocket it was next to.

A foul four points was awarded to Bingham, but the red that was contacted went safe, and despite having cueball in hand from the ‘D’ area, it didn’t look like Bingham had the opportunity to pot anything, yet alone be left with a favourable opening.

The shot selection strongly suggested that Vafaei intentionally sent the cueball into the pocket in order to get out of a tricky predicament.

"It’s ridiculous. Ridiculous” Bingham on foul shot controversy

Former Masters and World Champion Bingham was not pleased with the shot his opponent had played, accusing him of deliberately going in-off to gain an advantage.

Bingham consulted with the referee, saying: ”I believe he’s played that on purpose. He had no shot; that was all he could see. There was only going to be one outcome; that was always going to happen.

“All he could see was that red, and he couldn't help but go in-off...So he’s got the red safe, but he’s gone in-off, so I’ve got white in hand – what?"

The two players then exchanged words, with Vafaei justifying his shot by saying: ”I couldn’t see anywhere else; I tried to come back from the cushion.” Bingham was not convinced, though, leading him to say: "It’s ridiculous. Ridiculous."

In the end, the players were asked by referee Lyu Zhiwei to "calm down, please".

Englishman Bingham would go on to win that frame, and the match, 6-0, before defeating Zhang Anda, 6-3, the following day in the quarter-finals.

The 50-year-old's fine run was ended by eventual champion Mark Selby, 6-2, in the semi-finals, but Bingham - who had to navigate two qualifying rounds just to appear in the main draw in the Far East - could be pleased with his work from the £1.2 million competition.

In between matches in Taiyuan, Bingham starred in a light-hearted online video about the green baize flashpoint that saw him replicate the shot on a practice table.

Not illegal, but not in the spirit of the game says Bingham

Whilst waiting for his flight to leave China, Bingham posted a video on his Instagram account to talk about his tournament and the aforementioned disagreement.

When it comes to the rules of snooker, there are references to unsporting conduct that players can be warned about and punished for, but there is no such thing as a ‘deliberate foul’. In his reaction video, Bingham acknowledged this, but reiterated his feelings about the shot not being sporting.

The six-time ranking event winner said: "In the fifth frame he played obviously a deliberate in-off which obviously I was unhappy about.

“It ain't in the rules, it ain't an illegal shot, but I believe it's just the spirit of the game....My opinion, I just thought it was a bit wrong, but like I say, it's not against the rules.”

Saying “it's not in the spirit of the game”, Bingham added: “Maybe probably 85, 90% of the players on tour wouldn't do it, but it happens.

“I believe I've done the right thing calling it out straight away instead of maybe doing it after the match.”

The players shook hands at the end of the tie, and Bingham - who also thanked his fans for messages during the event - stated in the video that he has “massive respect” for world number 28 Vafaei

Having not qualified for either the upcoming Wuhan or British Open ranking events, Bingham’s next engagement on the World Snooker Tour is at next month’s English Open in Brentwood.