Tag Archives: characteristics

UK Snooker Championships 2012: Luca Brecel beats Mark King

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Teenager Brecel reaches quarter-finals after coming from behind to see off King

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UPDATED:

23:23 GMT, 5 December 2012

Luca Brecel believes he can strip the absent Ronnie O'Sullivan of one of his proudest records by winning the williamhill.com UK Championship.

The 17-year-old Belgian is a surprise quarter-finalist in York, having come from 3-0 behind to beat Mark King 6-4.

And now fearless Brecel has the title in his sights, warning that his tough streak makes him a threat to anyone left in the tournament, including next opponent Shaun Murphy.

Sensation: Luca Brecel wants to break Ronnie O'Sullivan's record in York

Sensation: Luca Brecel wants to break Ronnie O'Sullivan's record in York

Before the tournament, Brecel was a 100-1 outsider. He would be the youngest winner of a ranking event, beating O'Sullivan's record of 17 years and 358 days, set when he landed the 1993 UK title.

O'Sullivan is taking a break from snooker, with speculation circling that he could return for the World Championship in April.

Brecel, who turned 17 in March, said of his chances this week: 'I can win, but we'll see what happens.'

The teenager felt he played to only 20 per cent of his ability against King and accepts more will be required to be competitive against an in-form Murphy.

But his confidence around the table at the Barbican Centre shone through today, as it did in the first round against Ricky Walden.

And providing that remains unshaken, he could trouble the 2005 world champion.

At 3-0 down to King lesser players would have crumbled, but Brecel won five frames in a row, making two breaks of 65, a 78 and an 80.

'I'm a fighter, so I wasn't surprised. I was surprised how badly I've played in the first two matches,' he said.

Brecel bears few physical characteristics of a pugilist, but struck a fists-up pose when his claim was questioned.

'I am,' he said. 'I'm very tough.'

Eyes on the competition: Brecel watches Mark King line up his shot

Eyes on the competition: Brecel watches Mark King line up his shot

Romford potter King, 38, was hopelessly off his game in the closing stages and admitted as much.

'It was awful,' King said. 'I just didn't get going at all today and that is one of the main reasons I've never won a ranking event.

'One day I'll play really well and the next I'm like a bag of spuds. He half got going. It's my own fault – end of story.'

King had a parting shot for Brecel, saying: 'If he plays like that against Shaun Murphy he won't win a frame.'

A brilliant long red from Brecel made victory certain, and for King it was a second painful and costly defeat to the youngster this year, having been beaten 10-8 in April in the final round of World Championship qualifying.

The second win for Brecel was as sweet as the first, which took him to the Crucible.

Brecel said of the success: 'It's amazing, unbelievable. After three frames I was feeling very bad and I wanted to go home. But in the fourth frame everything changed.

Wonderkid: Brecel came from 3-0 down to win the match

Wonderkid: Brecel came from 3-0 down to win the match

'It was an amazing moment at the end. I'm still not playing well so hopefully in the next game I can play a bit better.'

Mark Selby came through his second-round test in similar circumstances, sliding 3-0 adrift against Wales' Ryan Day but recovering to win 6-4, and the Leicester man will replace Judd Trump as world number one if he reaches the final.

Like Brecel, Selby struggled to pot a ball early on, but he found form and come the closing stages it was Day missing regularly.

'The way the match started I don't think it could have got any worse,' Selby, 29, said. 'I was expecting the light to go off halfway through, I thought I was at a social club.

'I feel as if my game is there and it's all about having the confidence and belief to take it out on the table.'

Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins were in action tonight, vying for the right to play Selby, with John Higgins taking on Mark Davis on the other table as the second round came to its conclusion.

Lotus lose protest against Mercedes rear wing in China

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Lotus lose protest against Mercedes' controversial rear wing ahead of China race

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UPDATED:

16:02 GMT, 12 April 2012

The four-man panel of FIA stewards have dismissed Lotus' protest against Mercedes' innovative rear wing.

The protest related to the conformity of the Mercedes cars under article 3.15 of the FIA technical regulations, that 'any system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited'.

Mercedes' device is incorporated into the DRS, the drag reduction system that assists overtaking at given points on a circuit and is activated by a driver.

Pushing boundaries: Mercedes have caused controversy with their rear wing

Pushing boundaries: Mercedes have caused controversy with their rear wing

The design, which according to team principal Ross Brawn is independent of the DRS, stalls the front and rear wings, providing additional downforce and in turn extra straight-line speed.

Lotus claimed the system was illegal as it makes use of driver movement when the DRS is activated, however, following a lengthy stewards' meeting at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, it has been declared legal.

Mercedes are now free to use the system this weekend, although all parties have been reminded of their right to appeal. Lotus confirmed, however, that they will not appeal.

China challenge: Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher in Shanghai on Thursday

China challenge: Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher in Shanghai on Thursday

Lotus technical director James Allison posed five questions to his FIA counterpart Charlie Whiting and the stewards he felt believed needed answering in relation to the Mercedes system.

In their conclusion, the stewards deemed not all the questions could 'be answered in the affirmative and therefore do not form successful grounds for upholding of the protest'.

The decision will serve as vindication to Brawn, who earlier today said he remained at a loss to understand why so much fuss was being made.

'It's disappointing that after three races we're still in this situation,' said Brawn. 'The system hasn't changed, the FIA's position hasn't changed and, as far as I understand, their argument hasn't changed.'

Asked as to why he felt teams were still disputing it, Brawn added: 'I don't know. It's a bit of a puzzle.

F1 is in town: Lotus driver Romain Grosjean signs autographs in Shanghai

F1 is in town: Lotus driver Romain Grosjean signs autographs in Shanghai

'Obviously there are benefits in the system. Lotus have been quoted as saying they've a 0.2secs upgrade for here, well, I can promise you our system doesn't give us 0.2secs.

'In particular in the race because it can only be used when we overtake someone.

'So the amount of effort and time that has gone into it (in terms of the complaining) appears to be disproportionate. It does seem to be a strange situation.'

Brawn maintains the DRS and the additional system are 'quite independent', and was initially passed two years ago.

'In 2010 Charlie stated such a system was legal. It's in the minutes of the Technical Working Group meetings,' said Brawn. 'He stated his opinion then that he considered it legal, so it has not just been going on for three races, but for two years.'

Lotus protest against Mercedes rear wing in China

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Lotus lodge protest against Mercedes' controversial rear wing ahead of China race

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UPDATED:

11:34 GMT, 12 April 2012

Lotus have finally launched a formal protest against Mercedes' innovative rear-wing device.

Lotus and Red Bull, in particular, voiced their concerns during the course of the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix weekends.

FIA technical director Charlie Whiting, however, twice declared the system legal, much to the frustration of Lotus and Red Bull team principals Eric Boullier and Christian Horner.

Pushing boundaries: Mercedes have caused controversy with their rear wing

Pushing boundaries: Mercedes have caused controversy with their rear wing

The flipside saw Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn become frustrated with the antics of his peers, suggesting if they felt aggrieved they should protest after official scrutineering on Thursday.

That is precisely what Lotus have now done, with their trackside director of operations Alan Permane protesting the legality of both Mercedes cars driven by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

The protest relates to the cars' conformity under article 3.15 of the technical regulations, that 'any system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited'.

Mercedes' device is incorporated into the DRS, the drag reduction system that assists overtaking at given points on a circuit and is activated by a driver.

The design, which according to Brawn is independent of the DRS, stalls the front and rear wings, providing additional downforce and in turn extra straight-line speed.

China challenge: Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher in Shanghai on Thursday

China challenge: Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher in Shanghai on Thursday

Lotus claim the system is illegal as it makes use of driver movement when the DRS is activated.

Ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, Brawn remains at a loss to understand what the fuss is all about.

Speaking prior to the announcement of the protest, Brawn said: 'We're still getting confirmation they (the FIA) are happy with the system.

'It's disappointing that after three races we're still in this situation.

'The system hasn't changed, the FIA's position hasn't changed and, as far as I understand, their argument hasn't changed.'

Asked as to why teams were still disputing it, Brawn added: 'I don't know. It's a bit of a puzzle.

'Obviously there are benefits in the system. Lotus have been quoted as saying they've a 0.2secs upgrade for here, well, I can promise you our system doesn't give us 0.2secs.

F1 is in town: Lotus driver Romain Grosjean signs autographs in Shanghai

F1 is in town: Lotus driver Romain Grosjean signs autographs in Shanghai

'In particular in the race because it can only be used when we overtake someone.

'So the amount of effort and time that has gone into it (in terms of the complaining) appears to be disproportionate. It does seem to be a strange situation.'

Brawn maintains the DRS and the additional system are 'quite independent', and was initially passed two years ago.

'In 2010 Charlie stated such a system was legal. It's in the minutes of the Technical Working Group meetings,' said Brawn. 'He stated his opinion then that he considered it legal, so it has not just been going on for three races, but for two years.'

Both sides will now put their argument to the stewards, who will make a judgment ahead of Sunday's race. Should Lotus opt to pursue the matter further they would have to go through the Court of Appeal.