World champion Luca Brecel insists splashing the money has helped restore his hunger for extra snooker success after he kicked off his UK Championship marketing campaign with a gruelling 6-4 victory over Yuan Sijun in York.
The Belgian celebrated his shock Crucible success six months in the past by spending half his winnings on a £250,000 Ferrari and revealed he drained his financial institution steadiness additional this week by including a Range Rover and a Porsche Taycan to his rising storage.
“I bought two more cars this week so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire,” stated Brecel. “It was a conscious decision to buy the cars and maybe feel that bit of pressure again, to recreate the feeling I had of just starting my career.”
Brecel, who will replenish his ailing steadiness by a Ferrari-sized £250,000 if he goes on to assert his first UK title subsequent Sunday, stated he struggled in the aftermath of his epic overcome Mark Selby, having achieved a dream that drove him since he first picked up a cue on the age of 9.
“I didn’t go lazy, but I just didn’t feel that hunger or motivation going from tournament to tournament,” added Brecel.
“I don’t like that feeling and I had to change something. I wasn’t feeling any pressure any more. I was just playing and if I lost I was happy to be home. It’s not a good mindset to have.
“If you feel like that it’s impossible to change, but in the last few weeks I’ve been tired of losing in early rounds and I want to have that hunger to go deep again in tournaments.”
Brecel’s post-world title winning marketing campaign has been removed from a write-off, having reached the ultimate of the Shanghai Masters in September and the third spherical of two rating tournaments, and there have been glimpses in his win over Yuan of the participant who may ascend to the world primary rating for the primary time this week.
Two centuries and an extra break of 86 proved sufficient for the Belgian, who twice got here again from behind then was pegged again to 4-4 earlier than elevating his recreation to progress to the final 16 of a event the place he reached the ultimate two years in the past.
I purchased two extra automobiles this week so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire. It was a acutely aware determination to purchase the automobiles and possibly really feel that little bit of strain once more, to recreate the sensation I had of simply beginning my profession.
Luca Brecel
Brecel should repeat the feat in order to face any likelihood of reaching the highest spot however he conceded that process alone doesn’t present the enhance he must buckle down: “I’m still young and I feel like one day I’m going to get to number one anyway.
“I’ve been one match away and one frame away from world number one. I think my best chance was going to the Wuhan Open and I didn’t, so that shows you how much it keeps me busy.
“But it would be nice to tick it off, I’m not going to lie.”
The start of Sunday’s night session was delayed by an hour after a small hearth was found in the venue lobby, prompting an evacuation by the fireplace brigade.
When play lastly obtained below approach, it was 2008 champion Shaun Murphy who felt the warmth as he was overwhelmed 6-4 by Iran’s Hossein Vafaei in a match that ticked simply past midnight.
Matt Selt racked up two centuries in a 6-3 win over tenth seed Ali Carter, whereas China’s in-form Zhang Anda floor out an attritional 6-5 win over Elliot Slessor to ebook a second-round assembly with Brecel.
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