Judd Trump is ‘probably the best ever,’ says Luca Brecel: ‘There’s no one better’
'I think he's probably the best number one that's ever been.'
Luca Brecel feels Judd Trump is probably the best player ever, having been left in awe of the world number one after their Crucible quarter-final.
Trump won the match 13-8, powering to the finish line by winning five frames on the spin on Wednesday night after being level at 8-8.
The Ace has looked fantastic so far in Sheffield, beating Zhou Yuelong, Shaun Murphy and now the Belgian Bullet, to set up a semi-final clash with Mark Williams.
He took his century tally to a record of 104 for the season against Brecel and has cemented his place as favourite to lift the trophy this year.
Asked if he showed why he is world number one, Brecel said: ‘Yeah, absolutely. He’s incredible. He’s so difficult to play against. Anyone in the draw I would have fancied beating but he’s just a different level.
‘When I got my chances I took them well, I played a couple of bad shots and against him it will cost you. He’s just the best.’
Brecel thinks so highly of Trump that he reckons he is the best player ever to pick up a cue, some compliment for the 35-year-old.
On what makes him so difficult to play, Brecel said: ‘Just his all round game, I think, you have many players who can score unbelievably, but he backs it up with great safety and great long-potting. That’s incredibly difficult and that’s the reason he’s number one.
‘I think he’s been the best player for maybe the last five years, so it’s no surprise. He actually always plays like a number one, I think some years maybe the number one wasn’t as good as him. I think he’s probably the best number one that’s ever been, maybe.’
After their second round match Murphy suggested Trump was the most underappreciated player in the game and Brecel is in agreement.
‘100 per cent,’ said the Bullet. ‘I’ve played him so many times and I think there’s no one better, actually. And he’s still young, he can still win so many more.
‘For me he’s probably the best ever.’
Asked whether he was beaten by the next world champion, Brecel said: ‘You never know, but if he plays anywhere like this then 100 per cent.’
Trump is looking and sounding confident, saying that how he feels this year in Sheffield is up there with the best he has ever felt at the Crucible.
‘In terms of how I’ve played, consistently, I think I’ve played pretty good for the first three games,’ he said. ‘The form is there, I feel confident in myself.
‘Probably the last time I felt like this…I felt good in ’22 up until Mark [Williams] took all the energy out of me. I felt good that year. But this year is in the top two or three of all times I’ve played here.’
Brecel was in a perfectly fine mood after his defeat to the world number one, happy to accept he was beaten by the better man after a good run to the quarter-finals.
‘I’m totally ok with it,’ he said. ‘Especially the way the game went from 8-8, he just had the momentum and I had no chance to win today, that makes it easy to accept.
‘I’ve had a good tournament, played some good stuff so I’m quite happy. Obviously I wanted to win, get to the one-table set-up, but there’s still many more years to come.’
