Luca Brecel books Shanghai Masters snooker quarter-final spot after Mark Williams sees luck desert him

ByEurosport

Updated 13/09/2023 at 13:52 GMT

World champion Luca Brecel hit back from trailing Mark Williams 2-0 to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-4 win on Wednesday. He was joined in the last eight by former European Masters champion Fan Zhengyi, who reeled off the final four frames in a 6-3 win over Mark Allen. Stream the 2023 Shanghai Masters and other top snooker action live on discovery+.

Brecel makes incredible foul after missing all 10 reds - 'You couldn't make it up!'

World champion Luca Brecel battled past Mark Williams in the Shanghai Masters last 16 with a tense 6-4 victory on Wednesday.

Brecel will meet Shaun Murphy or Robert Milkins in the quarter-finals of the elite invitational event on Thursday after recovering a 2-0 deficit to edge out three-time world champion Williams, who compiled 74 in the second frame with his opponent piecing together 52.

Brecel responded with runs of 77, 92 and 107 to move 3-2 clear before his opponent rolled in a classy 110 to restore parity at 3-3.

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The pair traded the next two frames before Brecel dominated the ninth frame to move 5-4 ahead despite somehow potting the blue with a massive fluke after trying to hit the reds.

As it was, the match was a settled by a series of unfortunate moments undermining Williams, who saw the white disappear down a pocket after splitting the pack of reds off potting the blue when he looked set to force the decider on a break of 21.

He later watched in dismay as the white disappeared down a baulk pocket attempting to run safe before a long red somehow stayed out late in the frame with Brecel finally putting the frame to bed (57-21) by despatching the final red from distance.

After losing 13-11 to Brecel in the World Championship last 16, Williams will probably rue his luck in losing another tight battle with the Belgian world No. 2.

Brecel was joined in the last eight by former European Masters champion Fan Zhengyi, who claimed the final four frames against Mark Allen in a 6-3 win.

UK champion Allen opened the match with a majestic 135 with Fan delighting the home fans by moving 2-1 clear boosted by a 73.

Allen produced 51 and 63 to edge 3-2 ahead before Fan assumed total control as runs of 88, 91 and 84 secure a quarter-final spot with his opponent scoring only nine points in the final four frames.

Fan will face 2010 world champion Neil Robertson or compatriot Ding Junhui on Thursday. They play their last-16 match live on Wednesday at 12:30pm (BST).