China Championship: Luca Brecel is first player from mainland Europe to claim major title
LUCA BRECEL became the first player from mainland Europe to claim a major title yesterday.
Luca Brecel became the first player from mainland Europe to claim major title
The 22-year-old can be added to the list of famous Belgians after winning the China Championship in Guangzhou – and he quickly insisted there is more to come.
Brecel beat Shaun Murphy 10-5, taking nine of the last 11 frames after trailing 3-1 to ensure his biggest payday of £150,000.
And as well as a huge personal success, Brecel’s debut title will be hailed throughout a continent hoping to challenge the UK and China.
Brecel has long been hailed as a future champion and at times struggled with those expectations. But last night he showed few nerves in going one better than last year’s German Masters final for a historic and symbolic triumph.
And manager Django Fung used Claudio Ranieri-style motivation over the week by promising Brecel pizza if he won.
It still feels like a dream to be honest, and that I will wake up in a few minutes and it won’t be real
Brecel said: “It still feels like a dream to be honest, and that I will wake up in a few minutes and it won’t be real. I hope that doesn’t happen. To win your first at a very big and important one with a lot of prestige is amazing.
“Definitely there will be more to come, the pressure is much higher for the first one.
“I wasn’t feeling too good at 3-1 down, and I would have been so disappointed had I not won this event. I did feel under a lot of pressure – but I managed to stay calm.
“It means a lot to have won it beating Shaun, and of course Ronnie O’Sullivan along the way earlier in the tournament. And Ronnie was playing well.
“With those two and Marco Fu I have beaten real quality, so I could not wish for anything more for my first one.”
There are more spin-offs for Brecel as a result of his win in Guangzhou. He is into the elite top 16 and gains a place in the Champion of Champions tournament in Coventry.
And there is a hugely increased chance of a spot at the Masters in January, and even a seeded berth at the World Championships next spring.