Brecel and Thing gave each other in London's Alexandra Palace in a captivating duel't budge an inch. Our compatriot took the openingsframe, after that Thing with a 125 break gelijkmaakte. Brecel was not impressed and came in the rest of the party, each on lead, including after breaks of 74 and 87. Straffe toebak in frame nine: Thing missed three times, a red ball, so Brecel frame got in the laps. A clash against Ronnie O'sullivan in the semi-finals beckoned, but the ‘Belgian Bullet’ gave it away. In the ‘decider’ let Brecel to a simple red ball (see video below), to his own dismay. Thing, the whole race in the chase, took advantage and won the decisive frame.
It's amazing what pressure can do... #DafabetMasters pic.twitter.com/A24Owa6cLz
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A bitter pill for Brecel, who for the second time participated in the Masters. In the first round, he switched from defending champion Mark Allen. Last year he was on his debut in the first round gewipt. “I thought the match was over,” said Ding after the miss from Brecel in the last frame. “I could not believe that he is that ball missed. But he is the youngest player of us all and he has so much talent. He is a diamond in the rough and will be even better.”
Brecel had no explanation for his fatal mistake. “Normally I am strong in the decisive balls and I was fine with the pressure. But now, I missed incomprehensible. I still does not know how that could happen. I have a lot of opportunities, but I can't finish it.” Brecel played with a damaged petit grain. “As a result of a effectstoot in response just before the contest. During the rest became patched and suffer as much I have not had. That petit grain is certainly not the cause here today, I've lost.”
WEIRD MOMENT at the @dafabet Masters! the
Ding Junhui forfeits a frame!