REIGNING world champion Stuart Bingham said reaching the final of the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix had given him a boost as he prepares to defend his crown next month.

The Vange snooker player was defeated 10-9 by Shaun Murphy at Venue Cymru in Llandudno tonight in the final.

Bingham has the Players Championship and China Open tournaments later this month before the World Championship starts on May 16 at The Crucible.

But his performance in Wales has put a spring back in Bingham’s step as he gears up to defend his crown in Sheffield following a season of ups and downs.

“The way my season has gone, to get to the final and have a sniff of winning will do me a hell of a lot of good for the next tournament and the World Championship,” the Basildon potter said.

Bingham pulled back from 4-1 down in the afternoon session to 5-4 going into tonight’s deciding session.

Murphy took a 9-8 lead but Bingham hit back to square the match and set up a deciding frame, which he ultimately lost.

But Bingham added: “I was grateful to get to the final and obviously have gone one step further than last year and I’ve just come up a bit short.

“Fair play to Shaun. It felt like I was trying to hold on to him as much as I could today. Both of us struggled and I think the table went a bit strange on us.

“It’s obviously disappointing to get beat 10-9 in the final but congratulations to Shaun, he’s a great lad, a good friend and a worthy champion.”