The thermometer in our country leaves little to the imagination, but for Luca Brecel (28) it can freeze or thaw. The world champion also immediately won the Masters. Rudy Bauwens, Eurosport commentator, does not spare our compatriot.
His world title could have or perhaps should have freed Luca Brecel, but after those magical two weeks in April 2023, Brecel fails to bend the downward curve.
“It was a two-way story,” commentator Rudy Bauwens analyzes Brecel’s defeat yesterday in the opening round of the Masters.
“Jack Lisowski played phenomenally, Luca was disappointingly weak. At 2-4 there was a possible turning point, but when there wasn’t the maximum break the spirit disappeared.”
“Luca had very little confidence in himself. Before the match we had a conversation with Luca and he said so himself.”
“This is a bad signal. To the outside world, but also to yourself. Then you cover yourself up, as if it didn’t work after all.”
Luca is looking for a path like he did at the World Cup, but I don’t think he knows how to return to the beginning of such a path.
Rudy Bauwens (Eurosport commentator)
Confidence is essential for every athlete. “You get it by playing well. You have no guarantee of winning, but if you play well, you have a certain rhythm.”
“Think of the World Cup: he played there with a backpack on his shoulders (Brecel had never won at the Crucible), he could have lost the first match, but he won, he freed himself and became world champion.”
“Luca is looking for a race like that, but I don’t think he knows how to get back to the start of a race like that.”
“Luca lives on his talent and during the World Cup he also highlighted the fact that he had trained very little.”
“It may work occasionally, but if I have to choose between someone with fixed training methods and someone who does it à l’improvised, then I know.”
“That he was successful at the World Cup, but that won’t be the case more often? Yes, I absolutely say that.”
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Weight on your shoulders
Shortly after his elimination, Rudy Bauwens was strong for Luca Brecel. “At the moment there is nothing that convinces me not to say that the World Cup, with all due respect to the performance, was above all a stroke of luck.”
“Then all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. He could have lost all his matches. He was affected by his matches and that happens from time to time.”
“Someone like Stuart Bingham also became world champion, but he never managed to confirm it. I fear that Luca cannot become a great champion like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby or John Higgins.”
Is there a world title curse? “The longer you delay success, the greater the burden becomes.”
“Then you can make jokes like Luca likes to do. He’s very honest and says what he thinks. This is thanks to him.”
“But I’m sure there’s a bit of panic. It hasn’t been like this all season. The closer the World Cup gets, the more pressure there will be.”
I’m a bit afraid that Luca won’t become a great champion like Ronnie O’Sullivan or John Higgins.
Rudy Bauwens (Eurosport commentator)
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2024-01-08 05:20:13
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