Luca Brecel Names Three Favourite Snooker Players to Watch
Luca Brecel, the Belgian snooker player, has revealed that he would pay to watch three players, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Zhao Xintong, and Jack Lisowski. This comes after O’Sullivan praised Brecel’s attacking style, saying he could watch him play all day long.
According to an interview with Metro.co.uk, Brecel, who won the World Championship in 2023, beating Mark Selby in the final, returned the compliment to O’Sullivan, naming him as one of his favourite players to watch. "I didn’t know that, so that’s a nice compliment," Brecel said. "I can understand because I’m really open, very attacking, quite quick, so I understand."
Brecel’s attacking style has made him a fan favourite, and he has no intention of changing his approach, even if some critics suggest he could be more circumspect at times. "That’s just natural for me, for me it’s really tough to really knuckle down and fight for every ball," he said. "I don’t see the point. I can see why other people do it but for me there’s no point because it’s just a game. I just want to enjoy the game like I’ve always done, as a kid, it’s more about fun and entertainment than winning."
The 30-year-old Belgian player also praised O’Sullivan’s style, saying that he and other players like Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, and Ding Junhui are exciting to watch. "There are some great players out there right now who are exciting to play the game," O’Sullivan told Socrates Magazine. "Luca Brecel, for example… he’s incredible! I could watch him all day long."
Brecel, who is set to play Ryan Day in his Crucible opener on Wednesday, is hoping that his good form will continue. He has not played since the Welsh Open, but looked in good form in that event, reaching the semi-finals. "Maybe, in practice it’s been the same every day, playing well," he said. "Even before Wales I was playing well, got to the Saudi final, quarters in the Scottish Open, so it’s been good, it’s up to me to keep the streak going."
When asked about his approach to the game, Brecel said that he doesn’t think about the money, but rather focuses on enjoying the game. "For me it is [easy] because I don’t really think about the money," he said. "I think if you’re good and skilful you’re always going to get money. It’s just about the game. I think this mindset always helps because when I see the winning line I never panic, I just play the same game and get over the winning line quite easily."
Brecel’s comments were reported by Metro.co.uk, which also noted that there is a lot of mutual respect between Brecel and O’Sullivan. The two players have had a number of battles on the table, including Brecel’s win over O’Sullivan in the 2023 World Championship.
In related news, Shaun Murphy has rated his World Snooker Championship chances after an intimidating opening win, while Mark Selby believes again after a mental health turnaround since last year’s Crucible nightmare. Meanwhile, Barry Hearn has set a deadline for a decision on the Crucible’s World Snooker Championship future.
The World Snooker Championship is one of the most prestigious events in the sport, and Brecel’s comments are likely to generate significant interest among fans. As Metro.co.uk reported, Brecel’s attacking style has made him a fan favourite, and he will be looking to continue his good form at the Crucible.
