- By Michael Emons
- ` Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
1 hour ago
image source, Getty Images
image description, Luca Brecel was ahead 6:3 and 9:6, but lost 10:9 to David Gilbert after a decisive frame
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Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Dates: April 20th – May 6th. |
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Coverage: Watch live on ` TV, ` iPlayer, the ` Sport website and the ` Sport mobile app; Live text broadcast of selected games; Updates on Radio 5 Live. |
Last year's Crucible winner Luca Brecel said he was “looking forward to not becoming world champion again” after beating David Gilbert 10-9.
Brecel said he had been battling strep throat since March but didn't use that as an excuse for the loss.
“I wanted to go running, but it wasn't possible and it was a little difficult these few weeks,” said Brecel, 29.
“If I wasn’t the defending champion I might have retired, but it’s too big to retire when you’re seeded and you’re the defending champion.”
“I coughed all day, but that's no excuse: I just wasn't good enough. I missed a few balls and he played well and kept fighting.”
Brecel defeated former world champions Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby to win his first world title in 2023. However, he said there were some disadvantages to being world champion.
“It's been a good year but I'm looking forward to not becoming world champion again – I don't like all the attention,” Brecel added. “I've been waiting for the season to end for a few weeks. It’s just a game, why should you be happy when you win and sad when you lose?”
Gilbert, 31st in the world rankings, reached the semi-finals in 2019 and will play in the round of 16 on Thursday against either the number 16 seeded Englishman Robert Milkins or the Chinese Pang Junxu.
Brecel missed chances to win the match in both the 16th and 18th frames and the 42-year-old Gilbert admitted he took advantage of his luck.
“Being 8-5 down was the worst for me, but Luca was struggling and should have won 9-6,” Gilbert said. “Then I found my rhythm and it was a really tough game. Big respect for Luca, he’s brilliant at snooker.”
“It's been a while since I won a game in a proper arena and I hope I can build on that. He was always a nice boy.
Brecel's departure means that the so-called “Crucible Curse” continues, with no first-time champion able to retain their title the following year.
“Everyone has asked questions about it,” Brecel said. “I think I would have had a chance if I had won that game, but I wasn't able to.”
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