‘A miracle to get here’ – World champion Luca Brecel followed scores on plane in race to make Scottish Open

Luca Brecel found himself in a race against the clock as he rushed to make his Scottish Open first-round match against Iulian Boiko on Monday afternoon.

Brecel admitted if it hadn’t been for Craigie – who sensationally fought back from 3-0 down – he may not have arrived in time to play.

“It’s been a miracle to just get here,” the Belgian told Eurosport after his first-round match. “When Mark Williams was 3-0 up, I was still on the plane.

“So I was checking the scores, and I was like ‘Sam needs to win at least one frame’ to give me a chance – maybe two actually – and that’s what he did. So I’m thankful to Sam and just happy to be here, to play well and enjoy it.”

The close shave didn’t put the Belgian off his game, as he went on to post a clean sweep of four frames without reply to ease into the second round.

Brecel will face James Cahill in the next round and said that he was “really up” for the second half of the season and going all the way in Edinburgh.

“I felt quite good, I enjoyed it,” he said. “I’m just trying to have a bit more fun on the table and today I was just happy to be here, obviously because of the travel, but even at home I was like ‘I’m really up for this one’.

“I’m just trying to enjoy it. I haven’t been doing that enough this season, I’ve sort of been thinking too much, maybe. Probably because I’m the world champion and there’s more attention. I just automatically start thinking more and that’s never a good thing in snooker.

“I [am] just trying to go back to my world championship state of mind and be more relaxed and enjoy it more.”

On the second half od the season, he added: “I’m really up for the second half of the season. Maybe I wasn’t up for the first half, but I’m definitely up for the second.”

Brecel also revealed that he had been battling illness ahead of the Scottish Open, and was nearly forced to pull out.

“I [didn’t] feel as sharp as I want to be but I’ve been really ill over the last 10 days,” he claimed. “I nearly pulled out of the UK [Championship] and I nearly pulled out of this one, actually.

“No one likes to pull out of tournaments. I haven’t been able to practice even the last few days because I’ve been ill. But I’m just happy to be here, feeling good again. It’s only since maybe yesterday that I’ve been feeling better.”