Frustrated Ronnie O'Sullivan makes 'very rare' comment at World Snooker Championship
Ronnie O'Sullivan took on Luca Brecel in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan’s telling comment to Luca Brecel during their World Snooker Championship clash on Tuesday said it all about the pair’s opening session. Before the interval, the duo were split at 2-2 in an enthralling battle with both players showcasing why they deserve to be in the latter stages of the competition.
In the final game of the first session before the interval, the Belgian’s frustrations were on show as he fell below his own expectations having made a wonderful start - going up 1-0 and then 2-1 - but misplaced a shot that led to him allowing O’Sullivan back into the frame.
As the seven-time champion got off his seat to take his shot, he spoke with Brecel in an exchange that was picked up by the BBC team. “It’s a hard game today,” O’Sullivan told his opponent, in a rare moment where the 47-year-old took the time to speak with his opposite number during their match.
Dennis Taylor, who won the competition in 1985 with an iconic victory over Steven Davis, explained the gravity of O’Sullivan’s remark on commentary. "Very rarely do you hear Ronnie make a comment like that,” he said. “It's a hard game today, it's a hard game every day for many players. He's set such high standards."
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O’Sullivan himself had been frustrated on Tuesday morning, as Brecel came out firing and took the first frame having taken just an average of 12 seconds per shot to rack up 93 on his way to a strong start. After the Belgian’s fast start, O’Sullivan returned to the table for some practice shots in a rare moment for the Crucible crowd, showing the utmost respect for his opponent.
O’Sullivan attempted to slow the game down and use his superior safety game to get the better of Brecel, as he claimed the second frame before Brecel took the third. Two spectacular shots then came as the Belgian first sent a long yellow to the top left pocket, a risky shot that well and truly paid off as it was hailed as one of the best shots of the entire tournament.
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O’Sullivan then returned with his own remarkable effort shortly after during their entertaining contest, as he showed incredible control of the cue ball with his safety shot that put Brecel in a difficult position.
With the black near the bottom right pocket with a red, O’Sullivan managed to knock the red back up the table and somehow hook the cue behind the black - as Brecel then fouled and gave the Rocket a free ball before going on to take the frame.
"That was incredible,” Taylor said of O’Sullivan’s stunning safety. “To get that right behind the black, it's a good a shot as we've seen this tournament." As Ken Doherty then added: "If there's a shot worthy of winning a frame, that's it."