World Snooker Championship 2023: Si Jiahui leads Luca Brecel in semi-final
Last updated on .From the section Snooker
| Cazoo World Championship |
|---|
| Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 15 April-1 May |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV and Red Button with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app |
Chinese debutant Si Jiahui leads Luca Brecel 14-10 in a thrilling World Championship semi-final in Sheffield.
Si, 20, who came through qualifying, is aiming to become the youngest Crucible finalist in history.
A sensational start saw him extend an 11-5 advantage to 14-5 with wonderful breaks of 90, 132 and 97.
Brecel countered superbly with runs of 108, 60, 66 and 53 to reel off the next five frames as he kept alive his hopes of victory.
The manner of the Belgian's recovery was remarkable as he knocked in pot after pot with Si unable to maintain his previously impeccable standard.
An appreciative Crucible crowd gave both players a rapturous ovation at the conclusion of play after being treated to an exhilarating session of snooker brimming with spectacular pots.
Earlier on Friday, the applause ringing around the auditorium had largely been reserved for world number 80 Si, who dominated the second session by compiling breaks of 52, 122, 89, 58, 55 and 71 to stretch his 5-3 overnight lead to six frames.
It proved a frustrating session for Brecel, 28, who was told to calm down by referee Rob Spencer for swiping the white off the table with his cue when conceding the opening frame of the morning.
The Belgian's surprising reaction came after his opponent navigated his way out of a snooker on the green, fortuitously leaving Brecel snookered by the jaw of the right-corner pocket.
But Si remained completely unruffled throughout and repeatedly punished any minor lapses from Brecel with assuredness that belied his years.
The qualifier, who has spoken of his own "surprise" at reaching this stage of the tournament in his first attempt, will rise to fifth in the world ranking if he was to eclipse Stephen Hendry's record as the youngest champion, set in 1990.
World number 10 Brecel went into the contest heavily fancied after his stunning victory against seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals.
He will have to reproduce snooker of that standard if he is to overhaul Si when their best-of-33 encounter resumes on Saturday afternoon at 14:30 BST.
Analysis - 'It was a privilege to be here'
The 1991 world champion John Parrott, speaking on BBC Two
If I had known it was going to be that good I would have bought a ticket. It was a privilege to be here to watch that. It was fabulous entertainment from start to finish, with two players at the top of their game. It was brilliant.
For Luca to come back and win five frames after that barrage from Si - what a performance.
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