Ronnie O’Sullivan dumped out of World Championship after losing SEVEN straight frames to Luca Brecel in massive upset
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN’s quest for a record-breaking eighth World Snooker Championship is over after being shot down by the Belgian Bullet.
A below-par Rocket was beaten 13-10 by an inspired Luca Brecel in the Crucible quarter-finals.
O’Sullivan, 47, led 10-6 after the second session on Tuesday evening and many he thought he would only have to turn up to book his spot in the semi-finals.
But he had to spend the majority of this afternoon in his chair as Brecel excelled himself in the match of his life.
The 28-year-old – who had not won at this venue before arriving in Sheffield this month – claimed an incredible SEVEN FRAMES in a row.
It was the first time at world level O’Sullivan had surrendered a 10-6 lead here since losing to Peter Ebdon in the last eight in 2005.
Brecel, the No9 seed, has completely opened up the draw and will now play either Scotsman Anthony McGill or China’s Si Jiahui in the semi-finals tomorrow.
O’Sullivan said: “Luca played unbelievable. He is such a good player. I love watching him play. His cue action – he gets through the ball so well. It is incredible.
“The whip he gets on the white, the topspin, the thud he hits the ball with.
“Such a dynamic player, full of talent. Probably the most talented snooker player I have seen.
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“I would love to see him go and win it for snooker – that is how snooker should be played. A phenomenal talent. A phenomenal player. A lovely boy. I wish him all the best. Hopefully he can win the tournament.
“John Higgins has played some phenomenal sessions against me. Stephen Hendry did.
“If I had put up a bit more resistance, maybe he wouldn’t have played as well – at least if I had put some balls together. I didn’t put up any resistance. It shows he is playing with confidence.
“I am not sure he will be allowed that much movement if another top player plays well. Because they may stop the momentum.
“I wasn’t playing well enough to have an impact on the game.
“If it was a boxing match they would have stopped it very early on, I was pinching frames and hanging on.
“There is only so much hanging on you can do at the Crucible. It catches up on you. Eventually someone plays well against you and puts you away.
“I can go back out running again tomorrow. Thank God. I have had ten days off. I had to have my waistcoat made a bit bigger.
Before the tournament I was just out partying, staying up to 7am playing FIFA with my friends having drinks
“The pounds are piling on. I have to get this little bit of lump off. I will do some punditry, have some fun and enjoy the rest of the tournament.”
Brecel said: “I was so mentally fresh for this tournament. For the first game against Ricky, I came here and I practised for 15 minutes again. I could have been rusty but was actually quite sharp to be playing well.
“I struggle to cope with the longer matches. I play my own game. I play free-flowing and just go for everything.
“I struggle to stay focused. Even in the first session against Ronnie, I was a bit bored in my chair, which is strange. I need to work on that maybe.
“Before the tournament I was just out partying, staying up late to 6am and 7am. Playing FIFA with my friends. Having drinks. Not practising.
“Even after I beat Mark Williams, I went home. I got home at 7am by the car. That same day we went out to 5-6am. Drunk as hell.
“The next day I had to come back here. I drove up again, It’s totally different preparation but it is working.”