Luca Brecel travels to Northern Ireland Open from Mallorca just an hour before playing… then flies straight back

LUCA BRECEL is commuting to the Northern Ireland Open from a BEACH successful Majorca.

The Belgian Bullet, 29, bushed China’s He Guoqiang 4-3 successful a low-scoring first-round clash successful Belfast connected Sunday day successful which his highest interruption was 42.

Yet helium lone arrived astatine the Waterfront Hall venue astir an hr successful beforehand having flown consecutive from a vacation interruption connected the Spanish Island.

That evening the 2023 satellite snooker champion boarded a level from George Best Belfast City Airport backmost to the Mediterranean seaside resort.

And up of his adjacent duty – a last-32 clash with No.27 effect Pang Junxu – helium volition alert successful astatine the precise past minute.

Brecel – who spent a fewer hours connected Monday connected a spinning workout motorcycle – has hardly practised connected the array for this Home Series event, swapping his waistcoat for formation trunks.

He said: “It’s a spot of a brainsick mode but that’s however I similar it. I cannot hold to beryllium by the beach.

“I person done this my full career. You could besides say, ‘he could person won more’, but for maine it’s not astir winning much successful this game, it’s astir enjoying it.

“I bash bask this game. I emotion it each clip I travel to the table. That’s the mode I privation to support it. But this is the manner I request to person to bask it the most.

“For me, this is simply a cleanable combination.

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“I similar being capable to power disconnected from snooker erstwhile I’m not playing and past power backmost connected for matches. I privation to triumph each clip I play.

“Snooker is simply a batch of fun. Even with this lifestyle, I tin inactive play good capable to triumph a trophy. Snooker is the broadside quest.”

Brecel – who wants to complete an Ironman triathlon race “in 2028 oregon possibly 2029” – is an unorthodox character, a throwback to an aged era.

Despite being ranked 60th connected the provisional end-of-season database – a unsafe presumption if helium wants to support his Tour Card for adjacent play – helium had not picked up a cue for THREE WEEKS.

Over the past year-and-a-half since becoming a Crucible King, helium has spent a ample information of his £500,000 Crucible winnings, buying flash cars and travelling to glamorous vacation destinations with his partner.

As helium gorged connected bully nutrient during his breaks, the pounds person piled connected but the bald-headed cueist has present upped his workout routine.

He says helium precocious “lost 11 kilos present and I request to suffer more, possibly 10 to 15 more”.