‘HURRICANE’ BRECEL’S A BLAST
LUCA BRECEL has vowed to keep on playing snooker the Alex Higgins way after his swashbuckling World Championship win.
The 28-year-old Belgian came of age at the Crucible by going through his entire spectacular repertoire to grab a deserved first world title. The new world No.2 (left) made brilliant comebacks earlier in the event against Ronnie O’Sullivan and Si Jiahui, and had to survive a fierce Mark Selby rally before closing out an 18-15 success. ‘Belgian Bullet’ Brecel’s dazzling array of shot-making and fearless commitment to entertain the crowd could see him as an inspirational figurehead for the sport.
And that would put him in the same bracket as
Northern Irish legend ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, the original ‘People’s Champion’, who flew in the face of convention and changed the game forever.
Brecel, who landed snooker’s biggest prize after 15 minutes practice and partying hard before and during the tournament, said: “I saw a lot of people on the internet comparing me to Alex Higgins (inset) and that’s amazing, it’s a huge compliment.
“That’s the way I want to play. I want to be entertaining. Winning is not the most important thing.
“It’s great to see the crowds enjoying it and people loving it online as well. That’s the most important thing for me.
“It’s been an incredible World Championship. I’ve played my best stuff here.
“It’s the style the people want to see. I don’t want to sound cocky, but I think I’m a nice world champion if you like because I play the game in a very attacking way.”
Brecel’s triumph puts him alongside Terry Griffiths, Joe Johnson and Shaun Murphy as those to have lifted the trophy having never previously won a match at the Crucible.
In the Belgian’s case, still the youngest ever to play at the Crucible at 17 back in 2012, he had lost in the first round on five previous occasions.
“After my record here, not winning a game after five attempts, I wasn’t expecting to win it anytime soon,” admitted Brecel.
“To win it this year was absolutely crazy. It’s a dream come true.”