STUART BINGHAM is hoping the buzz of a Triple Crown tournament can help him recapture his World Championship form - but he is refusing to get carried away just yet.

The 39-year-old scaled the game's mountain when beating Shaun Murphy to win at the Crucible in May but has struggled to recapture that form this season, a run to the semi-final of the Shanghai Masters his best result.

But, after easing into the second round of the Betway UK Championship following a 6-1 victory over Jordan Brown, Bingham will look to draw on some good memories as he bids to turn his year around.

The Essex potter has made the semi-finals in York for the last two years, losing to the eventual winner of the tournament on both occasions, but he wants to focus on getting through the last 64 rather than looking ahead.

Asked if he could be inspired by playing in the game's second biggest event, Bingham said: "Yes. The way the started the match off - I remembered winning my (opening) match 6-0 last year.

"I sat down and some good memories came back. The table was prettily slippery, a couple of little bounces here and there but it played really nicely once I got used to it and got my eye in.

"The player who has beaten me in the last two semis has gone on to win it. It will be tough and I have got to look at the second round match, not get carried away (thinking about) semi-finals. I am just looking forward to the next match."

The final scoreline belied what had been a tough start for Bingham, who had to fight hard to win the first two frames and then took the next after a re-spotted black.

From there, though, he found some fine form and produced breaks of 126, 100 and 80 to claim victory.

He added of his performance: "It was a slow start. The first three frames could have gone either way and I was maybe fortunate to win them, really. But I made a good hundred to go 4-0 and then made another to go 5-0.

"I was happy with the way I finished the match off but not happy with the way I started. Even the shot I potted (the re-spotted black), I didn't fancy it but I had to trust my line and go for it. Luckily, it went in.

"I could have been 3-0 down pretty easily and I have got to tighten up to progress any further."

Brown said: "I felt as though I should have been better than 3-0 down - maybe it should have been about 2-1 - but we both really struggled out there. The conditions were lovely and I was actually very calm early in the match. If I had got off to a better start, it might have been different.

"It was a great experience which will stand me in good stead for the future. I have been on the TV a couple of times and beaten John Higgins in a PTC on his home turf. It didn't faze me out there.

"I wish I could have performed better. I had chances to score and didn't take them."