Stephen Hendry's telling remarks about fellow snooker player 'despite his lifestyle'

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Snooker icon Stephen Hendry has hailed Luca Brecel as a "genius with a snooker cue" lauding his skills despite Brecel's unorthodox approach to both play and life.
Brecel, aged 30 and the reigning champion of the 2023 World Snooker Championship, is showcasing formidable form in this year's contest at the Crucible. He's already dispatched Ryan Day in the opening round and delivered a resounding 13-4 victory over Ding Junhui to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
The Belgian star, eyeing his second World Championship crown by the end of the next month, is gearing up for a clash against Judd Trump, the current World No. 1, on Tuesday.
Their encounter will decide who progresses to the semi-finals to potentially face off against either John Higgins or Mark Williams.
During the BBC's coverage of the event, alongside Seema Jaswal, Hendry didn't hold back in his praise for Brecel, remarking: "Luca Brecel, back to the Brecel that won the world title two years ago, three years ago. Incredible.", reports Wales Online.
Jaswal chimed in, noting: "And approaching it the same way, taking flights here and there and then coming back."
Hendry continued to reflect on Brecel's unique strategy, saying: "Approaching the game in a way that no other player has, and still winning. I mean, if someone had told you back in the day that there's going to be a player that comes on the scene later on and is going to approach it the way he does - and he's still going to win the Worlds by the way - you'd have said no chance."
Hendry has been vocal about his views, stating: "Until I'd seen that person play, I'd have said, 'No, he's got no future in the game'. But when you see the way Luca Brecel can play, with his kind of preparation, he's just a unique talent.
"He's just fabulous to watch. He's an absolute genius with a snooker cue, it's what he was put on this earth to do. He wants to do other things as well though, that the thing. But maybe if you took Luca and said, 'Right, you've got to practice six hours a day', he wouldn't be the same player.
"He's just an inspirational player, and when he gets that inspiration, when he gets that buzz from snooker, you can't stop watching him. He's just brilliant."
Snooker sensation Brecel is known not only for his bold and aggressive playing style but also for his unorthodox lifestyle choices off the table.
The sports star made waves with his grand entry at the Crucible aboard a private jet. After defeating Day 10-7 on Wednesday, he opted to fly back to Belgium rather than remaining close to the tournament venue like most participants.
His candid admission of extravagant spending has drawn even more attention.
Fresh off his win at the 2023 World Championship, Brecel splurged on a Ferrari 488, a BMW M4, a Range Rover Sport, and presented a Porsche Taycan to his partner, Laura Vanoverberghe. Ruminating on his recent purchases, Brecel remarked: "I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire."
Despite his choices away from the table, Brecel continues to impress on the green felt, and fans are eager to see how far he can go this year. However, he faces a formidable opponent in Trump, who has been showing remarkable form.
The 35 year old effortlessly defeated Zhou Yuelong with a 10-4 win in his first match, followed by a 13-10 victory over Shaun Murphy in the second round. Having not managed to replicate his 2019 World Championship final triumph over Higgins in the following years, Trump is undoubtedly keen to regain the title come May 5.

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