SAD NEWS: A stunning snooker player was banned prior to …..
With less than three months to go until this year’s Crucible campaign, world snooker champion Luca Brecel is in a chaotic condition. The Belgian surprised Ronnie O’Sullivan by winning the 2023 championship, but it appears from his recent results in ranking events that he will be far slower in his title defence.
In April of last year, Brecel overcame a 10-6 deficit to defeat the Rocket 13-10 in the quarterfinals. After defeating Mark Selby in the championship match, the 28-year-old won his first global title and a cool £500,000 in prize money.
O’Sullivan exclaimed, “He played unbelievable,” following their Crucible match. I adore watching him play since he is such a talented player. He gets through the ball so nicely with his cue action. It’s amazing. The thud he smacks the ball with, the whip he receives on the white.
He’s definitely the most gifted snooker player I’ve ever seen; he’s such a dynamic player. It would be my pleasure to witness him take the title, as that is the proper way to play snooker. He is incredible.
In contrast, Brecel hasn’t exactly delivered stellar performances this season. The defending world champion lost to O’Sullivan in the Shanghai Masters final in September, but since the competition began in July, he has not advanced past the quarterfinals of any ranking event.
Brecel was eliminated in the opening round of the British Open and was not able to advance past the second round of either the International Championship or the UK Championship.
Brecel acknowledged in November that he struggles to maintain the same level of hunger as when he initially entered the sport. “I bought two more cars, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire,” he stated. “I made the deliberate choice to purchase the automobiles in an attempt to relive the pressure of starting my profession and perhaps feel that little bit of pressure again.
“I just didn’t feel that hunger or motivation as I moved from tournament to tournament—I didn’t get lazy. That feeling bothers me, so I had to make a change. I was no longer under any pressure. I was just having fun, and I was glad to be back home even if I lost. It’s a bad way of thinking.
