Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel made history with one of the fastest sessions ever seen at the Crucible, both wrapping up their second-round victories in just over 15 minutes. Each required only a single frame to secure their places in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals on Monday evening.
Brecel was the first to seal his win, racing to a 13-4 victory over Ding Junhui. The Belgian’s 71 break in the final frame ended the match, allowing him to quickly join the locker room. O’Sullivan followed shortly after, completing his own 13-4 victory over Pang Junxu with a break of 95. Both players were remarkably efficient in sealing their wins, demonstrating their dominance in an almost effortless fashion.
Although O’Sullivan barely broke a sweat in dispatching Pang, he was predictably self-critical of his performance, giving himself a rating of “probably two out of 10.” The 47-year-old, who had not competed since January, acknowledged that his form was below par, stating that he had “dragged [his opponents] down to a poorer level.” He also noted that his next opponent, Si Jiahui, would not be fooled by his lackluster play, making him a dangerous competitor. O’Sullivan will meet Si in the quarter-finals after Si survived a late scare from Ben Woollaston, winning 13-10.
Reflecting on his chances of winning a record eighth World Championship title, O’Sullivan remained realistic. He admitted that he would need to raise his game, especially when it came to long potting and positioning, areas where he felt he was lacking. He also mentioned the importance of improving his consistency as the tournament progresses.
Brecel’s journey to the quarter-finals was shaped by an impressive first session against Ding, where he compiled two centuries and several other breaks over 50. He had a commanding 7-1 lead by the end of the session, a position that was almost impossible to overturn. Brecel’s preparation for the tournament was unconventional, as he had flown in from Belgium on a private jet just hours before his match, which he said had become his usual approach. Despite not being in peak form, Brecel showed confidence in his ability to repeat his success from 2023 when he claimed the title. He noted that while he didn’t feel as sharp as he had two years ago, the pressure to win was less intense, which gave him a sense of freedom going into the latter stages of the competition.
Meanwhile, Judd Trump faced a tough challenge from Shaun Murphy, who mounted a remarkable comeback after trailing 12-6. Murphy rattled off four consecutive breaks over 70, closing the gap to 12-10 and threatening to force a decider. However, Trump remained calm under pressure, securing a key 58 break in the final frame to seal a 13-10 victory and book his place in the quarter-finals. Trump acknowledged the challenge Murphy posed and expressed his relief at getting over the line, admitting he had been worried as Murphy gained momentum.
With O’Sullivan, Brecel, and Trump all advancing to the quarter-finals, the tournament continues to promise exciting and unpredictable matchups as the world’s best snooker players aim for the ultimate prize at the Crucible.
