World Champion Luca Brecel Walks Out of Xi’an Grand Prix Qualifier in Shocking Snooker Meltdown
Luca Brecel’s early-season struggles continued in dramatic fashion when he forfeited his match during the Xi’an Grand Prix qualifier, sparking comparisons to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s infamous walkout at the 2006 UK Championship. Brecel, the 2023 World Champion, was trailing 2-0 and 40-1 in the third frame to world No. 74 Sunny Akani when he suddenly decided to concede, despite Akani needing three more frames to secure victory.
The decision came after Brecel experienced serious technical issues with his cue, rendering him unable to play with the same level of comfort and precision he usually enjoyed. In a candid post-match interview, Brecel explained the frustration that led to his withdrawal: “Due to overpower, I can’t use my own cue today. Every decent snooker player knows how difficult it is to play with a borrowed cue from a colleague!” He went on to describe the feeling of the cue as “totally disconnected” and unlike what he had been used to in recent weeks, where his arm felt in perfect harmony with his game. Despite arriving with a “warrior’s mentality,” Brecel quickly realized that the cue was severely affecting his performance, leading him to give up the match mid-frame.
The walkout drew immediate comparisons to O’Sullivan’s famous exit during the 2006 UK Championship, where he offered a handshake to Stephen Hendry in the middle of a frame, abandoning the match while down 4-1. O’Sullivan was fined £20,800 for his actions, and it remains to be seen if any disciplinary action will be taken against Brecel. As for Akani, he was awarded a 5-0 walkover victory.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of absences and withdrawals from Brecel this season. He missed the Wuhan Open qualifiers in June, opted out of the British Open qualifiers, and also skipped the Saudi Arabia Masters, citing health reasons. His form has been inconsistent, and his ranking has slipped to 41st, a far cry from his previous position as world No. 2. Still, Brecel is set to return to competitive play in the Northern Ireland Open qualifiers, where he is scheduled to face either Liam Davies or Reanne Evans.
The Xi’an Grand Prix incident raises questions about Brecel’s state of mind and whether he can regain his form in time to defend his World Champion title. His decision to walk away from the match mid-frame, despite his obvious frustrations, mirrors a larger narrative of snooker players struggling with their mental and physical game in the spotlight. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how he bounces back from this early-season setback.
