LIVE SNOOKER. Brecel will soon be playing in ‘Champion of Champions’, O’Sullivan is mentally tired and forfeit – Watch VTM GO | More Sports

Ronnie O’Sullivan (47), the number one in the world and defending champion, gives up. “Mentally I feel exhausted and stressed. I want to take care of my mental health and take care of my body. Sorry to my fans. But I will come back stronger.”

O’Sullivan had played normally against the Chinese in his opening match Zhang Anda. The Englishman won the tournament four times (2013, 2014, 2018 and 2022).

The second day of the ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament can be watched live today on VTM GO. Commentators are VTM journalist Maxim Goethals and Bjorn Haneveer. The latter was the most successful snooker player in our country before the arrival of Luca Brecel. Brecel himself will take action from 2 p.m. If he wins his first match, he will return tonight at 8 p.m. for the group final.

In the meantime, the group final has been played. Mark Allen quickly put Ali Carter in his place with a 5-1 lead. Carter had his back against the wall, but fought back with an almost maximum break of 143. It turned out to be only a postponement of execution, as Allen finished it off by eventually winning 6-2.

The second match of the tournament is a nail-biter. Mark Selby and Ali Carter keep pace for a long time and a decider must ultimately ensure separation. Carter pulled off a seventh frame with a century. He was slightly better in that, Carter has to play against Allen tonight.

In the first match of the tournament, Mark Allen won 4-1 against Jimmy White. The Northern Irish number four in the world added extra luster to his victory by achieving the first century break of the tournament in the last frame.

You will undoubtedly want to see Luca Brecel in action. He will play his first match on Tuesday afternoon, if he wins, and the group final on Tuesday evening. Both sessions can be seen live on VTM GO.

The semi-finals on Friday and Saturday evenings and the final on Sunday can also be followed in full on VTM GO. Hopefully with Brecel.

The sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are not broadcast. Commentators on duty are VTM NIEUWS journalist Maxim Goethals and former snooker player Bjorn Haneveer.

The sixteen invited players were divided into four groups by random draw. Each group has three matches in one day. First there is a group match to best of 7 legs, the opponent is determined by draw. Within a group, not everyone plays against each other.

The winners of the two group matches will play the ‘group final’ (best of 11 legs) in the evening. The winner will qualify for the semi-finals on Friday or Saturday (best of 11 legs).

Luca Brecel has been drawn against Barry Hawkins. If he wins, he will play the group final on Tuesday evening against the winner of the Williams/Milkins match. If he wins that group final, he will play the semi-final against the winner of group three, where Judd Trump is the biggest favorite. The final is on Sunday (best of 19 legs).

Group 1 (Wednesday, November 15):
-Ronnie O’Sullivan
-Zhang Anda
-John Higgins
-Chris Wakelin

Group 2 (Tuesday, November 14):
-Luca Brecel
-Barry Hawkins
-Mark Williams
-Rob Milkins

Group 3 (Thursday November 16):
-Judd Trump
– Baipat Siripaporn
-Shaun Murphy
-Gary Wilson

Group 4 (Monday November 13):
-Mark Allen
-Jimmy White
-Mark Selby
-Ali Carter

This afternoon the Champion of Champions 2023 (officially the Cazoo Champion of Champions 2023) starts at the University of Bolton.

The tournament has been around since 1978, but is now only in its thirteenth edition. By tradition, only sixteen players are allowed to participate, mainly winners of the most important tournaments since last year’s Champion of Champions. Only players who are invited may participate. World champion Luca Brecel is therefore present. The tournament does not award points for the world rankings. Financially it is interesting: the winner will take home more than 170,000 euros.

Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending champion, having defeated Judd Trump in the final 10-6 last year.

Luca Brecel will be in action for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. His match against Barry Hawkins will be broadcast live on VTM GO. If our compatriot qualifies, he will play the quarter-finals on Tuesday evening. Both sessions can be seen live. The semi-finals on Friday and Saturday evenings and the final on Sunday (afternoon + evening session) will also be shown in full at VTM GO.