Luca Brecel showcased a masterclass in snooker to draw level with world number one Judd Trump at 8-8 in their World Championship quarter-final on Wednesday evening. After trailing 5-3 overnight, the 'Belgian Bullet' stormed back, winning the first four frames in under an hour with three half-centuries and a century to lead 7-5.

Brecel's performance was reminiscent of his 2023 world title victory, as he won six consecutive frames, outscoring Trump 592 points to 81 during this dominant stretch. Trump, the 2019 Crucible champion, managed to regroup and level the match at 7-7 with a half-century of his own.

However, Brecel edged back ahead with a 92 break, only for Trump to win the final tactical frame, leaving the match finely balanced as it resumes at 19:00 BST. The winner will face Mark Williams, who triumphed in a thrilling 13-12 black ball decider against John Higgins.

Analysis

Ken Doherty, the 1997 World Champion, praised the match as a fantastic advertisement for the World Championship. "The crowd were glued to their seats," he said. "Luca’s shots were incredible, with tremendous side spin and cue power. If you had a hotshot reel of this championship, you could pick about 10 shots just from Luca."

This match not only highlighted Brecel’s skill and resilience but also set the stage for an exciting semi-final clash.