World Snooker Championship final: Mark Selby 'can't do anything' to stop Luca Brecel, says Alan McManus
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Updated 01/05/2023 at 16:24 GMT
Eurosport expert Alan McManus believes Luca Brecel is showing “no weaknesses” and suggests Mark Selby won’t be able to mount a comeback in the final session of the Crucible final on Monday. Selby trails Brecel 15-10 in the first-to-18 match and was stunned in the third session. Coverage of the World Championship final will begin at 18:45 UK time on Eurosport and discovery+.
Selby 'can't do anything about this' - McManus sees no weakness in Brecel
Mark Selby won’t be able to do anything to stop Luca Brecel, according to Eurosport expert Alan McManus, after the Belgian took a 15-10 lead in the World Championship final on Monday afternoon.
Selby was widely expected to continue where he left off from the second session, where he made the first ever Crucible final 147 maximum break, but Brecel played all-out attack snooker to win the opening four frames.
The next four frames were shared, so Brecel is just three frames away from becoming the fourth non-British winner of the World Championship.
“I don’t think he can do anything about this,” McManus said in the Eurosport studio. “I’ve been looking for a weakness in Brecel and I can’t see it.
“11-11 against Mark Williams, ton, ton. 9-6 up against Ricky Walden, back to a decider, ton. What he did against Si Jiahui was off the charts and that’s third in the list. I don’t see a weakness.
“I don’t see how Mark Selby can get this. He’s created miracles before the great man and I’ll never ever lose faith in him, regardless, but I just don’t see Luca faltering.”
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'At times he's been unplayable!' - Brecel moves within three frames of Crucible glory
Brecel had not won a match at the Crucible prior to this year, but stunned Ronnie O’Sullivan from 10-6 behind in the quarter-finals and trailed Si Jiahui 14-5 in the semi-finals before roaring back.
He made three centuries in the first mini session against Selby on Monday afternoon in the final, underlining his ability to change the momentum of a match with quick-fire snooker.
Jimmy White says Brecel is enjoying himself and agrees that Selby has a “big task” on his hands.
“He [Brecel] has got so much respect for Selby,” explained White. “He knows how difficult he is, knows he’s a big character, knows how well he played last night and knows he will come back at him.
“He was only one frame in front today and has played, probably, what I think is the best session so far in this tournament.
“Selby hit back but he stayed composed and took his time over some shots. It’s incredible snooker he’s playing.”
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