Joe O’Connor sets up Ali Carter semi-final after win over Luca Brecel at 2023 Players Championship

Joe O’Connor reached the last four of the Players Championship after a thrilling 6-5 win over Luca Brecel.

It was a see-saw affair that thrilled the crowd in Wolverhampton, with both having chances in a dramatic final frame that went O’Connor’s way as his superb season continued.

Brecel took the first frame, before O’Connor hit back with a 59 to level the scores.

As he did during his impressive win over Jack Lisowski, Brecel took advantage of a loose safety error from O’Connor to make a 67 clearance up to the black.

The fourth frame dragged on as O’Connor kept things tight and laid multiple snookers on Brecel.

However, two fouls from Brecel left him needing snookers at 29-67 down. Brecel played for snookers until O’Connor finally put the frame away after half an hour.

Brecel then moved clear with a break of 88, before O’Connor came back with an 85 to level.

The pair continued to trade frames and with the game at 5-4 in the Belgian’s favour, O’Connor had it all to do to remain in the competition.

He more than held his nerve when he racked up a 52-0 lead before facing a tough cut to the middle pocket, but he calmly put the red away to hit the highest break of the match – 125 – and set things up for a decider.

He moved onto 56-0 in his favour when he potted a black, screwing back into the pack of reds only to find himself without an obvious red. He refused to yield and knocked a superb red, bridging over other balls, into the green pocket.

The hard work appeared done, but he missed a brown off its spot to hand a chance to Brecel.

Brecel landed his own long red to move 64-7 down and with the table well set, but he inexplicably miscued. The Belgian’s clutch of his head in anguish told the story, as it allowed the 27-year-old O’Connor back in to take victory, and move into his third ranking semi-final.

O’Connor, who reached the final of the Scottish Open in December, will play Ali Carter on Friday, ensuring at least one English finalist. Shaun Murphy faces Ryan Day in Thursday’s evening game.

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