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Luca Brecel bows out of UK Championship after Jones Jones’ fierce fightback

Jonathan Davies in UK Championship

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Brecel was beaten by Jones in a deciding frame (PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo)

Luca Brecel suffered his latest early exit as he was beaten in a deciding frame by Jak Jones in the UK Championship first round on Monday.

The 2023 World champion, who reached the final of this event two years earlier, surrendered a 5-3 lead to become the fourth seed to fall at the first hurdle in York this year.

Brecel has struggled to build on the momentum of his Crucible triumph 18 months ago, and entered this clash at the Barbican Centre having dropped to 61st on the provisional end-of-season rankings.

And the Bullet could not avert defeat in his opening match at a tournament for the sixth time this campaign, as 2024 Crucible finalist Jones fought back to secure his maiden appearance in the second round of this event.

“I thought I’d played pretty decently from 5-3 down,” the Welshman said.

“You always want to do well in the biggest tournaments, and this is the second biggest tournament on the tour. I felt good towards the end.”

A scrappy contest ensued between the players, but Brecel appeared to be at his free-flowing best when breaks of 94 and 74 put him 5-3 to the good.

Though Jones dominated the next two frames to force a decider, the Belgian was in first with 42. However, he could not convert that opportunity, and the Welshman’s nerveless run of 66 to the brown was enough to get him over the line.

The world number 17’s reward is a second-round clash with Michael Holt, who was a 6-1 winner over reigning Scottish and Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson.

The Hitman came through four qualifying rounds to reach the main stages, and took two of the first three frames on the black, and fourth on the pink.

Breaks of 69 and 95 then moved him to the brink of victory, which he secured on the pink in the next frame – advancing to the last 16 for the first time since his run to the 1999 quarter-finals.

Earlier in the day, World champion Kyren Wilson put 2004 champion Stephen Maguire to the sword 6-0 despite a below-par display, not aided by a migraine.

Despite forging a 4-0 lead, the Warrior was visibly struggling as he mustered a top break of just 45. However, he improved as the winning line drew closer, with breaks of 71 and 86 seeing him home.

“It felt like my head was going to explode,” he said. “It was something I had to overcome and, thankfully, my brother got me some headache tablets, and I was able to get it under control.”

On the reception he received from the crowd as the reigning Crucible king, he added: “The BBC events have that little bit of excitement factor, and this is the first one since becoming World champion. It was an amazing entry into the arena, and I really enjoyed it.”

Next up for Wilson is a clash with practise partner Chris Wakelin, who battled past Matthew Selt 6-4.

The International Championship finalist is appearing at the UK Championship as a seed for the first time. A top break of 75 was the highlight as he continued his ground-breaking run in the season’s opening Triple Crown, having never previously progressed beyond the round of 64.

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UK Championship 2024 Day Three Results

Monday November 25

Round One

Chris Wakelin 6-4 Matthew Selt
Kyren Wilson 6-0 Stephen Maguire
Luca Brecel 5-6 Jak Jones
Gary Wilson 1-6 Michael Holt