Snooker icon Jimmy White has admitted he sometimes 'wants to shake' defending world champion Luca Brecel, who has struggled to kick on since his win at the Crucible 12 months ago.
Brecel shocked the world in 2023 when he went all the way to the final of the World Snooker Championships and defeated Mark Selby 16-15 in a tense clash.
His victory was even more surprising given he had never made it past the first round in his previous 11 attempts.
The Belgian had established himself as a fan favourite on the tour due to his flamboyant shots and carefree attitude around the green baize.
Jimmy White feels Luca Brecel needs to change a few things
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But it's that same attitude that had often cost him dearly at times and White feels the reigning world champion has fallen back into old habits.
“Unfortunately, since he’s had success, he seems to have gone back to that little bit of an attitude,” White said of Brecel.
“We know how good Dave Gilbert [Brecel's first-round opponent] is...if he plays his game, he can beat Luca for sure.
“Sometimes he [Brecel] is one of these guys I want to shake and say: ‘fast forward yourself, this is it pal, you’ve got to do it now'.
“He’s got a tough game Luca, but he’s got a lot of mettle about him and a lot of self-belief.”
Ronnie O'Sullivan is once again among the favourites to win what would be a record eighth world crown having won the other two Triple Crown events along with three other titles.
Jackson Page will be hoping to upset the odds when the pair go toe-to-toe on Wednesday.
But White doubts whether the qualifier will have the ability to truly challenge O'Sullivan.
“I like his game, but I think he’s a little bit too open for Ronnie,” White said.
Luca Brecel has not won a singles title this season
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“And I think Ronnie going for eight World Championships, the first time going for the Triple Crown...the way he’s produced during the last season, when someone has come close to him, he seems to have gone for the win and produced.
"He kicks on, he’s having those spasms of winning three or four frames.”
White added: “He’s only human.
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Luca Brecel is the reigning world champion
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“Now and again he’s going to run out of steam. Mark Williams played excellent.
“But because Ronnie’s superhuman with the way he’s been playing this season, you haven’t seen a lot of that.
"I can’t see Jackson Page beating Ronnie.”
