Snooker star at hazard of being booted off tour has cautioning for O’Sullivan, Trump and rivals | Other | Sport

Former world snooker champion Luca Brecel has cautioned rivals he’s shut to being back to his best fair weeks after his place on the the tour seemed under solemn danger. ‘The Belgian Bullet’ accomplished his first ranking quarter-final of the season at the Scottish Open this week, before being hammered 5-1 by Chinese opponent Xiao Guodong.

But prior to his humbling loss, the 29-year-elderly had shown glimpses of the create that saw him stun the sport in 2023, going all the way at the Crucible after beating Mark Selby in the final.

Aextfinished the way that year he knocked out Ronnie O’Sullivan, and came back from 14-5 down to Si Jiahui in the semi-final, becoming the first take parter to clearurn a nine summarize deficit at the World Championship.

And before leaving the Meadowbank Centre, Brecel had a strict message for the appreciates of O’Sullivan and world No.1 Judd Trump. He claimed he’s cforfeiting the benevolent of create that igniteed that extraunretagable his triumph in Sheffield 18 months ago.

“I’m take parting well. It’s been coming for a extfinished time, but I’m shut to my best aget,” he shelp. “I’m probably going to be better than ever before becaparticipate I’m putting more labor in. I’m more hungry and repartner promised aget.”

Brecel is now back inside the world’s top-10, having looked perilously shut to a return to qualifying school in October. He slipped down to No.60 in the rankings, with only the top 64 secured their place on the World Snooker Tour next season.

And he further threw his future in the sport into ask by uncovering he had structures to contend in an IronMan race in 2028. The event commemoratedly integrates a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, and 26.2-mile marathon run, with participants traditionpartner dedicating months, normally years, to the training regime needd.

Brecel’s finisheavor to juggle his promisements then came under fire at the Northern Ireland Open, when he traveled in from his training base Mallorca fair hours before his first round align, which he duly lost. But he tardyr euniteed unfazed by the prospect of losing his place with the world elite.

“I’m not worried about losing my Tour card as I would see it as a dispute to be in qualifying school,” he telderly the BBC. “I’d adore to take part in Q School one day so maybe this is the right time. Obviously, I’d adore to stay on tour as well so I’ll try my best. For now, I’m heading back to Majorca, I don’t comprehend for how extfinished.”

Despite his three thrives on his way to the last eight Brecel struggled to retain pace with Guodong, who made top shatters of 106 and 81. And he result elevated the prospect of a Chinese thrivener this week, with the 18th seed facing compatuproar Wu Yize today.

In the other final-four align, Lei Peifan will apshow on Mark Allen. Brecel himself was the last non-British thrivener of the tournament, prevailing in 2021 when the tournament was staged in Wales due to the Covid pandemic.