Luca Brecel makes short work of Joe O’Connor to progress at Welsh Open – ‘I played like a world champion’

World champion Luca Brecel is into the last 32 of the Welsh Open after a dominant 4-0 win against Joe O’Connor.

Former Scottish Open finalist O’Connor made an early error on a long red and Brecel took the opportunity to make a glorious start to the contest with a break of 83 to go 1-0 ahead.

O’Connor made amends for his earlier missed red by potting a long one at the start of the second frame, but a failed cut to the black allowed Brecel back to the table and he was in no mood to hang around.

The Belgian Bullet was in imperious form as he pounced upon O’Connor’s mistake once again.

This time, Brecel delivered a century break, clearing the table with 119 to race into a 2-0 lead.

It was a tighter, more considered, start to the third, but another O’Connor error – missing the black off the spot – gave Brecel the chance to secure a break of 62 on his way to moving to within one frame.

It was job done for Brecel in just over an hour in Llandudno.

O’Connor added a break of 13 to his underwhelming visits of 1,1 and 6 at the beginning of the fourth, but – as had been the case throughout the match – any sniff of an opportunity given to his opponent was seized upon.

A closing knock of 75 from Brecel sealed a 4-0 victory and a last-32 tie against Graeme Dott, who got past Wu Yize 4-2.

Speaking after the match, Brecel said: “I played like a world champion today.

“I’m feeling good, and if I’m feeling good it is going to show on the table. I love being world champion. You are always on the TV table.

“I’ve not really felt any pressure. I’m just happy to win again and play a bit better. In the beginning, I was doing everything and not really taking care of myself. Any sort of frame or game, I enjoy.

“I love scrappy frames too. But this is less energy. I’m working on my fitness again too. So that makes me happy.”