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In the 2024 World Snooker Championship, excitement and accidents coexist, with eye-catching duels and dramatic moments throughout the first round of the event. Defending champion Luca Brecel's surprise defeat and thrilling advances from several other top contenders added to the tournament's highlights. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of these key competitions, focusing on the performance of the athletes and the key moments of the competition.
Luca Bresel vs David Gilbert
In a high-profile matchup, Luca Brecel, the top seed and defending champion, was unexpectedly defeated 10-9 by David Gilbert in the first round, marking the abrupt end of Brecel's journey to Crucible. The two men were evenly matched, but Gilbert showed more determination and precision in the tiebreaker to win a nearly two-hour tug-of-war.
Mark Selby vs O'Connor
Fifth-seeded Mark Selby faced a stubborn challenge from O'Connor. Selby, a four-time world champion, had a number of slump moments in the match, especially during the phase of self-doubt, where his form was clearly affected. Still, Selby's key defensive and highlight scores in the game showed his top-level competitive form. However, O'Connor's back-to-back scoring in the closing stages helped him seal a 10-6 victory, the first time he had beaten such a highly-ranked opponent at the World Championships.
Ding Junhui vs Lisowski
Ding Junhui showed a high level of technique and strategy in the match against Lisowski. Although he was eliminated in the first round for the fourth year in a row, he controlled the pace of the game for most of the time with precise offense and solid defense. However, Lisowski showed unexpected calmness and precision in the deciding game, and finally won the reversal 10-9, and Ding Junhui unfortunately stopped in the top 32!
Luca Brecel
As the defending champion, Bresel showed his all-around skills in this matchup, including several highlight-reel single-shot breaks and consecutive scores. However, some of his non-mandatory mistakes at crucial moments, especially long platform errors in the tiebreaker, ultimately led to his loss.
David Gilbert
Gilbert showed a high level of mental quality and skill against Brecel. He made a couple of pivotal game-turning, especially in the final tiebreaker, where his calm performance and tactical choices helped him complete a comeback against the defending champions.
These competitions are not only a contest of skill, but also a confrontation of psychology and endurance. Brecel's defeat is a reminder that even the best players can't let their guard down at any point. Gilbert's victory showed his strength and mental qualities, especially in such a high-pressure environment.
For Selby, while he had his ups and downs in the game, some of his highlights showed that he was still one of the top contenders. The loss against O'Connor could be a major turning point in his career, prompting him to make adjustments in future matches.
Score data
Luca Bresel vs David Gilbert
- Luca Brecel
- High Score: 137
- Break 100 in a single stroke: 3 times
- Wins Counted: 9
- David Gilbert
- High Score Pole: 128
- Break 100 in a single stroke: 2 times
- Rounds won: 10
Mark Selby vs O'Connor
- Mark Selby
- High Score Pole: 119
- Break 100 in a single stroke: 2 times
- Rounds won: 6
- O'connor
- High Score Bar: 104
- Break 100 in a single stroke: 1 time
- Rounds won: 10
Ding Junhui vs Lisowski
- Ding
- High Score Pole: 142
- Break 100 in a single stroke: 4 times
- Wins Counted: 9
- Lisowski
- High Score: 115
- Break 100 in a single stroke: 2 times
- Rounds won: 10
Bresel vs Gilbert
Brecel's several mistakes in the crucial innings, particularly the inaccurate handling of the security and long tables, led to his defeat. Gilbert, on the other hand, took every opportunity and excelled in a high-pressure tiebreaker, showing his mental tenacity and on-the-spot adaptability.
Selby vs O'Connor
Selby, while displaying a high level of technique, showed mental swings at some key moments in the match, leading to an increase in turnovers. O'Connor, on the other hand, maintained a more consistent performance, especially when Selby made mistakes, which was key to his victory.
Junhui vs Lisowski
Ding Junhui's skills and experience should have given him an advantage, but poor management of psychological pressure in key bureaus was the reason for his defeat. Lisowski was inexperienced, but his excellent performance in the tiebreaker combined with Ding's mistakes to lead to this unexpected result.
The controversy in the game was mainly focused on the matchup between Selby and O'Connor, with one of the controversial decisions involving the ball judgment sparking widespread discussion during the game. Selby's decision was challenged by the referee after a crucial safety kick, a moment that also had an impact on the mood and pace of the game on both sides.
The charm of the World Snooker Championship lies in its unpredictability and the test of the athlete's all-round ability. Although there were controversies and mistakes in the observed competitions, they showed more of the technical proficiency and mental quality of the players. In particular, the performances of Gilbert and O'Connor, who showed how to stay calm under pressure and take their chances. In addition, although the referee's decision-making is sometimes controversial, it is also part of the game, which adds to the uncertainty and spectacle of the game.
By analysing the performance of players and the results of matches, we can deeply understand the complexity of the sport of snooker and the test of players' all-round ability. Especially in terms of mental quality, we see the key factors that determine the outcome of a game. In addition, the disputed verdicts in the game remind us that impartiality and fairness in sports competitions are always a topic of concern. In the end, these exciting matchups not only tested the skills and strategies of the players, but also provided a high level of entertainment and education for the audience, once again proving the unique charm and wide appeal of snooker as a sport.