Ronnie O’Sullivan punishes Luca Brecel errors to reach Masters quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace

ByBen Snowball

Updated 09/01/2023 at 17:35 GMT

Ronnie O’Sullivan will face either Mark Williams or David Gilbert in Thursday’s quarter-final after a comfortable win over Luca Brecel, although the 6-1 scoreline did not quite tell the whole story. Brecel had big chances to build a lead before the interval, but fell apart in the key moments to gift O’Sullivan frames. And when you gift O’Sullivan frames you typically lose, as Brecel found out.

Ronnie O’Sullivan punished a collection of big mistakes from Luca Brecel to race into the 2023 Masters quarter-finals with a 6-1 win at Alexandra Palace.

The Rocket, chasing a record-extending eighth title at the Triple Crown event, was gifted the second and third frames after Brecel unravelled in the decisive moments. From that point on, the result rarely looked in doubt as O’Sullivan cruised into a meeting with either Mark Williams or David Gilbert.

O’Sullivan talked up Brecel as the “most talented player on the circuit” prior to the clash, tipping the Belgian to win multiple world titles, but it was the world No. 1 who looked a cut above as he delivered a statement display on the green baize.

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The 47-year-old earned an immediate opening in the first frame after a smart snooker left Brecel missing twice, then connecting much too firmly with the red he was trying to skim. O’Sullivan took full advantage, showing off his fabled cue ball control as he made a 97 contribution for a 1-0 lead.

One criticism of O’Sullivan is that he often takes time to warm into matches, but there was no doubting he was tuned in from the off against Brecel when he fired home a marvellous long red to kick off the second. But after making 42, luck went against him when he charged into the pack and was left without an option.

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Brecel, also battling his troublesome tie from poking out during his cue action, soon built a winning opportunity when he brilliantly cannoned the brown into play off a cushion. But two shots later, he inexplicably ran out of position after potting the brown, allowing O’Sullivan to return to the table and, after a safety battle on the blue, clean up for a 2-0 lead.

O’Sullivan missed the simplest of reds early in the third frame – with replays later showing he suffered a horrendous kick – as Brecel was handed a reprieve. The frame came down to the colours with O’Sullivan getting the opening with a brilliant safety on the yellow, only for him to contrive to pot the cue ball soon after.

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That left Brecel with a golden chance to halve the deficit. It was one he had to take; it was one he did not take. Although Brecel produced an outrageous shot on the green with the rest, screwing back up the table for the brown, he threw it away, again, this time going in-off from the blue. O’Sullivan gobbled up the remaining three balls and, somehow, led 3-0 when he could – and probably should – have been behind.

Brecel ensured there would be no more colours drama in the fourth frame as he produced a steadying 100 without reply for the first century of the match to head into the interval with something to work with.

But if he was hoping for O’Sullivan’s level to drop upon the resumption, he was in for a nasty surprise. The 27-year-old was afforded just one shot, the break-off, in the fifth frame as O’Sullivan danced around the table en route to a 134 total clearance to move two from victory.

Watch in full: O’Sullivan’s 134 total clearance against Brecel

Brecel was back on the scoreboard in the next, albeit only after a monster fluke, before he soon broke down again. O’Sullivan returned with another century, this time a 104, as the match headed for a brisk conclusion.

And the rout was completed soon after as O’Sullivan knocked in a smart 53 to leave Brecel requiring snookers, with the deflated Belgian conceding soon after as his miserable Masters record continued. Brecel has won just once in four matches at the event and has much work to do if he is to fulfil O’Sullivan’s prophecy as a future world champion.

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