Shaun Murphy has described Luca Brecel as a “phenomenal player” and the Englishman believes it is only a matter of time before the talented Belgian becomes a major champion. Both players went head-to-head on Saturday in the semi-final of the Champion of Champions and it looked like tournament debutant Brecel would be advancing into the final after a fast start to the match. The Belgian, who turned professional in 2011, took a 3-1 lead into the interval after making breaks of 68, 63 and 80 before the two players traded the next two frames, leaving the score at 4-2.
However, the 22-year-old possibly started to feel the enormity of the occasion with the finish line in sight as his opponent clawed his way back into the match with a stupendous break of 131. Murphy then showed his experience as he rattled off the next three frames, clinching a 6-4 comeback victory and booking his place in the final against two-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan. Brecel, who won his maiden ranking event at the China Championship this year, may have exited the tournament but ‘The Magician’ is adamant the ‘Belgian Bullet’ will be adding more titles to his collection.
“I knew what I was going to get tonight, you know how Luca is going to play – he is a phenomenal player, a great potter, a great scorer,” he said. “I don’t think it is a question of if he will be a major champion, it is a question of when. He is a great talent and a really nice lad as well.” Brecel, who has never gone past the first round of the World Championship, is 40/1 to win the showpiece event next year whilst Murphy is priced at 25/1 to lift the trophy for a second time.
Snooker odds available at Dafabet.