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Brilliant Brecel level with Trump in quarter-final

Brilliant Brecel level with Trump in quarter-final

BBC News30-04-2025

Luca Brecel produced a sensational potting display to draw level with world number one Judd Trump at 8-8 heading into the final session of their World Championship quarter-final on Wednesday evening.Trailing 5-3 overnight the 'Belgian Bullet' rattled off the first four frames in just under an hour as he compiled three half centuries and a century to lead 7-5.It was an astonishing performance from Brecel, who delivered the sort of performance that carried him to the world title two years ago.By the time he took the 12th frame, he had won six on the trot, including the final two from opening session on Tuesday and outscored the Englishman by 592 points to 81 during that purple patch.Trump, whose only Crucible crown came in 2019, regrouped during the mid-session interval and crafted a half century of his own on his way to levelling the match at 7-7.It only served as brief interruption to the Brecel barrage, with the four-time ranking event winner enjoying a run of 92 to edge back ahead at 8-7. However, Trump took a tactical final frame to leave the contest delicately poised when it resumes at 19:00 BST.The winner will face Mark Williams in the last four after the Welshman won 13-12 in a Crucible classic black ball decider against John Higgins.
Analysis - Luca could provide the 'hotshot reel'
Ken Doherty, 1997 World Champion, on BBC TwoWhat a wonderful advertisement for the World Championship because it had absolutely everything. The crowd were glued to their chairs. They were thrilled today and did not want to leave.If you had a hotshot reel of this World Championship you could pick about 10 shots just played by Luca. Some of the shots he plays are just incredible.The side spin he gets on the ball and his cue power is just tremendous.

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