It was already clear in advance that this was not going to be an easy task for Luca Brecel and Ronnie O’Sullivan made that clear from the outset.
“The Rocket” looked very focused, played every ball flawlessly and took frame one with a break of 97.
Brecel looked to rally in frame 2, turning a 42-0 deficit into a 42-57 lead with 3 balls left on the table. But luck wasn’t on his side even in the decisive moments and O’Sullivan nibbled at the frame to make it 2-0.
Our compatriot also had every chance in the 3rd frame, but again the mistake was mercilessly punished. When he pocketed the blue ball, white also pocketed and O’Sullivan put it to good use to make it 3-0.
Two wasted opportunities for Brecel, who recovered well despite the setbacks. In the 4th frame he nibbled at O’Sullivan’s lead after a hot penny of exactly 100.
It was immediately Brecel’s last success, as O’Sullivan made little work after the interval. The seven-time Masters winner pocketed 2 cents in a row (134 and 104) and also won the 7th frame.
Out Brecel, who was allowed to participate in the Masters for the 3rd time in his career. In 2018 he also fell in the 1st round, a year later he got stuck in the quarterfinals.
“Ronnie played very well, even though I had my chances too. I didn’t take them,” Brecel said after the match at Eurosport. “Today I lacked a bit of lucidity, I’ll have to work on it in training in view of the next tournaments”.
Was Brecel impressed by the condition of London’s Alexandra Palace? “It certainly wasn’t intimidating, I like playing here. It’s very different from other tournaments. It’s fun. I don’t feel any pressure here anymore. I hope to be here again next year.”
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