Steve Davis (Eng) v Stuart Bingham (Eng)

It is an incredible achievement that at the age of 50 and nineteen years since the last of his six World Championship successes that Steve Davis is not only still playing competitively, but still remains in snooker’s top 16.

A deep rooted passion for the sport he once reigned supreme at allied with an insatiable competitive spirit would appear to be the reason why the Nugget remains actively involved in the top echelons of the game.

Sadly for Davis and his legions of fans, his stay in the top 16 is nearly certain to come to an end after this tournament as he has endured a terrible season, littered with first round exits.

In recent campaigns, Davis has been able to rely on one tournament to save his season and thereby earn another season’s grace in amongst the elite.

That has not happened for Davis this season and so unless he records his seventh world title in three weeks time, if he is to return to the Crucible again he will need to play at least one qualifying match.

It is one of the great paradoxes of life that Davis’ popularity is far greater now he is no longer a major threat in the game than it was when he was at the peak of his powers during the 1980s.

This perhaps says much about the British psyche in treating winners, but it also says much about the tremendous humility which Davis has shown over the years.

In the absence of Jimmy White, with the obvious exception of Ronnie O’ Sullivan, there will be no player with more well wishers assembled in the crowd at the Crucible this year.

But enough of the sentiment. Davis really will have a fight on his hands if he is to raise the roof and make it to the second round.

Stuart Bingham is an upwardly mobile player, provisionally ranked 22 in the world and he defeated Davis in the first round of the Masters at Wembley in January, a venue where Davis always attracts vociferous support.

While Bingham perhaps lacks the sting to challenge the really top players, he can be a composed player once he gets among the balls and is likely to relish this challenge.

Davis is likely to be buoyed by the occasion and he will treat every Crucible appearance he makes now as though it is his last.

So I expect him to give strain every sinew in this match to overcome his opponent.

But Davis’ problem over a long match will be his concentration as much as his cueing. These days it is a common occurrence to see him miss a routine ball from its spot just when he is looking set to record a big break.

Purely because I expect Bingham to retain greater consistency in his play throughout the match, I am calling him to win this contest. Prediction: Davis 7-10 Bingham