Snooker star stunned after losing to Luca Brecel despite potting 'winning' black - The Mirror

At the British Open in Cheltenham, snooker star Luca Brecel has made it through to be part of the final 32, but largely in thanks to his opponent Tian Pengfei's misfortune

Chinese snooker star Tian Pengfei suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to Luca Brecel at the British Open despite ‘potting’ a black to level the match.

The pair met in the last 64 in Cheltenham, with Brecel looking to up his game after a disappointing world title defence last term and current WST number 56 Tian aiming to stage an upset.

Brecel took a stranglehold on the clash and had his 37-year-old opponent on the ropes in the sixth frame, looking to seal the victory whilst flaunting his long-potting skills.

Yet, Tian was given a window back into the contest and even potted what should have been a ‘winning’ black, only for his cue ball to find a pocket and dump him out of the competition.

The clash was a topsy-turvy affair. Brecel took a two-frame lead before being pegged back to 2-1. His eventual 3-1 lead was also reduced before the deciding sixth frame loomed.

The ‘Belgian Bullet’ then missed the chance to clinch victory when his long-pot attempt went awry, leaving Tian with an opportunity to take the match into a decider.

The stuff of nightmares then occurred, however. The Chinese ace lined up his long attempt into the top right pocket, taking his time before unleashing a more than valiant effort – potting what would have been a frame-clinching black.

However, were John Virgo in attendance, we might have heard ‘where’s the cue ball going?’ Tian’s white would agonisingly trickle back down the table and fall into the pocket, losing him the frame and the match.

Brecel, who progressed into the last 32 of the competition, was left with a guilty smirk pasted across his face as he shook hands with his understandably dejected peer.

The 2023 world champion miserably began his title defence after being dumped out in the first round by David Gilbert on his Crucible return. However, he has started this season in a much better fashion.

"I’m playing the best I have ever played in practice, and in matches, I am making progress," said Brecel. "Everything is sharp and I am in a good space. I am looking forward to this season more than ever.

"There are a couple of things to improve and I have not been used to winning a lot of games in a row, but I feel I am playing well enough to win the tournament.

"I have lost around ten kilos so I am feeling fit off the table. Cycling is great because I love being outdoors, it’s good for my body and mind.

"I used to look at rankings but not anymore, I don’t even know where I am. It doesn’t matter because the way I am playing, I am never going to be really low. If you are good, then you will always be good."

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