A RECORD breaking Benson and Hedges Snooker Championship drew to a close in Malvern last night (Thursday) with first time finalists Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham battling it out for a £5,000 first prize.

Murphy, one of the youngest finalists in the 11 year history of the event, won seven matches to earn his showdown with Essex professional Stuart Bingham.

World number 43 Bingham had triumphed in six games, including last night's 6-2 success over 1997 Malvern winner Andy Hicks.

Both players have been in outstanding form at the Willie Thorne Snooker Club, particularly Bingham who has already made six of the 83 tons so far - a record since the competition moved to Malvern three years ago.

Murphy fired in two centuries in his 6-1 success over Mark Davis and having knocked out defending champion Ali Carter in the last 32 he was optimistic of pocketing a £5,000 first prize plus the wild card ticket to the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley next February.

And Bingham's win over Devon left-hander Hicks ensures there will be a new name on the trophy. David Gray, the 1998 winner, and Brian Morgan, champion four years ago, both qualified for the last 16 and threatened to regain their titles.

However, Morgan lost to 20 year-old Lee Spick while Gray qualified for the quarter-finals only to miss out against Hicks.

Local interest ended with the defeat of Alfrick's Dave Finbow who went down 5-3 to little known Yorkshireman Craig Butler.

"I'm almost glad it's all over" said Finbow who has never done himself justice at the Willie Thorne Snooker club.

"The pressure is a thousand times worse than it is anywhere else. Every time you miss two balls in a row you suddenly think you are 4-0 down," he said.