World Snooker Championship 2023 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on Luca Brecel in quarter-finals – updates
Brecel the child star
Luca Brecel met Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Power Snooker short-format concept when he was just 15-years-old and he is hoping to count on the experience gained when he was a teenager.
Ahead of today’s match, the Belgian Bullet spoke about his career.
He said: “Playing Ronnie when I was just 15 in that tournament was a great experience for me. That’s been very important in my career — playing against big names at a very young age.
“I won the Europeans twice at 14 and played at the Crucible at 17.
“That is still the record for the youngest to play there, and one I am very proud of.
“That record will probably get beaten. Now players can turn pro before 16, you’d think someone might do it.
“I have watched how I played then on video and I might be even more aggressive now than then, which is incredible. I have more shots.
“I certainly remember the atmosphere in London. It was very loud, with fans really shouting for Ronnie. It was the same at the Masters this year when I played him. I’m sure at the Crucible, too.
“When I beat Hendry at 14, I was so sharp. I was obsessed with snooker and practised so much. I was practically unbeatable in the amateur game.
“I’ve been lucky enough to meet Lukaku a couple of times and I know a few of the other Belgian footballers.
“I might get messages of support from Youri, Jan and a few more for the Ronnie match. A lot of them like and follow the snooker.
“Tennis star Kim Clijsters won the main award the year I got mine. I got to speak to her. I play darts with her sister sometimes!
“I do stay up late and play FIFA, sometimes until 6am. My preparation for this tournament could not have been any worse, believe me.
“Partying, playing darts, not practising … so it’s unbelievable to reach the standard I have in the two games. The ex-pro pundits don’t like it when I say I haven’t practised.
“The tattoos on my hands say Free Bird, which is the way I live and play. And there is La Vida Loca, which means crazy life in Spanish — because that’s me too.”
