Webdesk: Luca Brecel reached the World Championship final against Mark Selby after a miraculous comeback. Brecel became the first player to win 11 consecutive frames at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield after overturning a nine-frame deficit. Selby defeated Mark Allen 17-15 in the other semi-final, which went into Sunday morning.
Allen won five consecutive frames to put pressure on Selby, who was leading 16-10. Selby persevered to reach his sixth world final. Brecel trailed 14-5 against 20-year-old qualifier Si Jiahui, who was trying to become the youngest Crucible finalist and first debutant world champion since 1979. He rallied to win the final five frames of Friday’s evening session and continued his momentum on Saturday, ending Si’s run.
Brecel was impressive because he had never advanced past the first round. He was in shock and shaking after winning. Si acknowledged his weaknesses and praised Brecel’s near-perfect snooker in the final two sessions.
Stephen Hendry called Selby and Allen’s slow match “dark cloud” over the Crucible. Saturday morning was as difficult as Friday’s early session. Allen rallied to make it 16-15 despite Selby’s strong evening performance. Selby won after Allen missed a mid-range red at 12:47 am local time, 12 hours before the final.
Selby will try to win his fourth world championship, while Brecel will try to become the first Belgian to win. Both players want to win the final, so it will be intense.
