March 6th 2024.
As the Crucible approaches, Luca Brecel is starting to find his rhythm once again. This season hasn't been the best for the 28-year-old, who shocked the snooker world by defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, and Mark Williams to claim his first world title. While his talent was never in doubt, there were doubts about his performance at the Crucible, as he had never won a match there before 2023. However, he silenced all the skeptics by becoming the world champion in a spectacular fashion.
Since then, Brecel's season has been a bit disappointing, with only one quarter-final run since his victory at the Shanghai Masters in September. But things seem to be turning around for him recently. He showed glimpses of his old form by defeating Ali Carter in his first match at the World Masters of Snooker on Tuesday. This win has set him up for a semi-final clash against Mark Allen on Wednesday. With the World Open, World Mixed Doubles, and World Championship still to come, Brecel is hopeful that he can finish the season on a high note.
Reflecting on his season, Brecel admits that it hasn't been the best, but he is grateful for the opportunity to play in these prestigious tournaments as the world champion. He is determined to make the most of his title and add a few more trophies to his collection. Brecel's victory at last year's World Championship was one of the most memorable in recent history. And he has already shown signs of returning to that form by reaching the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open last month and now the semi-finals of the World Masters of Snooker.
After his win against Carter, Brecel expressed his happiness and relief, admitting that he was feeling a bit nervous at the start of the match. He credits his victory to his ability to quickly adapt to the new table and settle into the game. He also acknowledged the difficulty of playing in a new location but is pleased to still be in the tournament and looking forward to his semi-final clash with Mark Allen.
Speaking of Allen, Brecel knows that he is in for a tough game against the man who has already won three titles this season. He recognizes Allen's talent and form and knows that he will have to bring his A-game to defeat him. The two will face each other in the first semi-final in Saudi Arabia, followed by a highly-anticipated match between Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan. The winners of these two matches will then face each other in the final later that evening.
In other news, O'Sullivan has taken a dig at Mark Selby, referring to him as "Midnight" after his comfortable win against John Higgins at the World Masters of Snooker. Meanwhile, Higgins reacted to his near miss on a 167 gold ball break, admitting that he thought he had it in the bag before the cue ball went in off. It's been an eventful tournament so far, and the excitement is only going to increase as we head towards the semi-finals and final.
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