Ronnie O’Sullivan names current star as his ‘favourite player to watch’

Luca Brecel stunned the snooker world by winning the World Championship this year, turning in a string of sublime performances along the way.

The Belgian Bullet has always been known as a fluent, attacking, flamboyant player, and he demonstrated all those characteristics en route to the title in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan saw first hand just what Brecel is capable of as the 28-year-old beat him 13-10 in an incredible quarter-final match, with the Belgian winning the last seven frames on the spin.

If the Rocket wasn’t a fan of Brecel’s before that match he was after watching that performance, despite being on the wrong end of it.

Speaking at this week’s Shanghai Masters, after reaching the semi-finals with a 6-5 win over John Higgins, O’Sullivan told WST of his style of play: ‘I don’t play to entertain, I just play the way I play.

‘I think Judd’s similar to me, Jimmy White was the same. We play quite an attacking game.

‘That’s just the way we play the game. If you ask Judd and Luca do they go out there to entertain they’d probably say no, they’re just out there playing their game, it’s just their style.

‘Everyone has different styles, but I think the crowd enjoy more attacking snooker.’

Speaking after that remarkable Crucible quarter-final in April, O’Sullivan said of Brecel: ‘He played unbelievable, he’s such a good player, I love watching him play.

‘Such a dynamic player, full of talent, probably the most talented player I’ve ever seen.

‘I’d love to see him go and win it for snooker, because that’s how snooker should be played.

‘Phenomenal talent, phenomenal player, lovely boy, I wish him all the best and I hope he goes on and wins the tournament now.

‘I don’t think he realises how talented he is. It’s very hard for you to see your own gift, but he is one talented snooker player.’

O’Sullivan got his wish as Brecel went on to beat Mark Selby in the final.

A few months on and it will be O’Sullivan and Selby meeting in the first semi-final at the Shanghai Masters on Friday, with Brecel playing Neil Robertson in the second on Saturday.

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