Luca Brecel reveals he was 'drunk as hell' before World Championship win over Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Planet Sport writer
- 26 April 2023
Parties, overnight FIFA sessions and drinks with friends - Luca Brecel's world championship preperation is far from conventional.
Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out of the World Championship as conqueror Luca Brecel revealed his unorthodox partying preparation to beating the seven-time world champion in their Sheffield quarter-final.
Belgian world number 10 Brecel revealed he got "drunk as hell" after beating Mark Williams to set up his Crucible date with O'Sullivan.
Brecel, 28, told the BBC: "Before the tournament I was out partying and staying up late until 6 or 7am, playing FIFA with my friends, having drinks and not practising.
"Even after I beat Mark Williams I got home at 7am by car, and that same day we went out again until five or six in the morning.
"I was drunk as hell. The next day I had to drive back up again, so it's a totally different preparation."
O'Sullivan, resuming 10-6 ahead, failed to make a single break over 30 as Brecel rattled off seven successive frames to book a semi-final date with either Anthony McGill or Si Jiahui.
Mark Allen reached the semi-finals for just the second time in his career with a hard-fought win over qualifier Jak Jones.
Allen was far from his fluent best and made just one break over 70, but took advantage of a nervy display in the final session from debutant Jones to secure a 13-10 victory.
"It was never in doubt was it?" a relieved Allen joked after reaching the last four at the Crucible for the first time since 2009.
"It was a complete slog to be honest. The first session was really good but I was awful after that and it was just a matter of digging deep, trying to stay as positive as possible and trying to get 13 frames. That's what I did.
"I felt like as the match went on he was getting more edgy but I wasn't playing well enough to capitalise, so it was just a matter of staying patient and taking my chances when they came.
"It wasn't pretty, I'm sure it wasn't pretty to watch but I couldn't care less. I'm in the semis.
"I don't mean this to sound bad to Jak, but that was like a three or four out of 10 performance. That really wasn't good. But mentally I was like a 12 out of 10 and ready for anything."
