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UK Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan cites Usain Bolt as example for Luca Brecel to follow - 'He worked really hard'

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Luca Brecel has had a torrid time on the table since winning the World Championship in 2023. When he beat Mark Selby, the game appeared at the Belgian's feet, but he took his eye off the ball and his form has suffered. Ronnie O'Sullivan has said the only way back to the top is through hard work. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the UK Championship, on Eurosport and discovery+

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Ronnie O’Sullivan has suggested Luca Brecel needs to look at Usain Bolt as an example of a gifted athlete being rewarded for hard work.

Brecel is widely regarded as one of the most naturally talented players in snooker, but his form has dipped markedly since winning the World Championship in 2023.

The Belgian has arrived in York for the UK Championship with his spot on the tour at stake, as he is in danger of dropping out of the world’s top 64.

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Such a scenario would have seemed unthinkable when Brecel beat Mark Selby to win at the Crucible last year, but he has taken his eye off the ball and his game has suffered.

Brecel admitted during the Northern Ireland Open that he was travelling to and from events from his base in Mallorca, and it is an approach that has been questioned by seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.

"As a snooker player, I cannot buy into what he’s doing, flying in from Mallorca between matches and stuff," Hendry told the Express.

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"But then, I don’t know what his priorities in life are. Maybe snooker isn’t his priority any more, and you’ve got to respect that. If that’s what he wants to do, that’s it.

"For me, as someone who dedicated their whole life to win, I don’t understand it. But it’s his life. Luca’s different to anyone else on the tour in that respect."

O’Sullivan does not have an issue with Brecel flying in and out for tournaments, but insists he must put in the work if he wants to compete at the top level.

"A happy person is normally a happy snooker player, but you have got to put the work in," O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio at the Barbican in York.

"Even Usain Bolt had to put a lot of training in if he wanted to win medals, and he is probably the most talented, gifted specimen of a sportsman there has ever been.

"But if you watch his documentary he worked really hard. If he didn't, he would not win, and that applies to everybody."

Brecel told Eurosport that he had embarked on a fitness regime in a bid to light his fire once again.

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O’Sullivan feels Brecel has the talent to get back to the top, and should not be concerned with his world ranking, but spoke of the importance of hard work.

"Luca has to make his own mind up and where he wants to go in the game," O’Sullivan said. "The one thing I will say is rankings are not that important.

"When you have that amount of talent, if you decide to put the work in, you will win tournaments. The ball is in his court and only Luca can make those decisions."

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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the UK Championship, live and on demand on Eurosport and discovery+

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