STEVE DAVIS reckons Luca Brecel could be the man that ends the Crucible curse.
But then he would also not be surprised if the under-performing Belgian has an “absolute dog” of a first-round tie and crashes out on Saturday.
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Brecel, 29, won a maiden world championship in unorthodox and jaw-dropping manner.
He came from behind to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarters and then overturned a NINE-FRAME deficit to knock out Chinese debutant Si Jiahui from the semis.
If anybody has the ability to defend the crown on their first attempt – which has never happened in Sheffield – then maybe it is the No1 seed.
Six-time world snooker champion Davis, 66, told SunSport: “The most astonishing performance I think I’ve ever seen at the World Championship.
“The most amazing player I think I have ever witnessed in the way that he goes about approaching the game.
“And if anybody was going to break the Crucible Curse it may have to be somebody as unusual as Luca Brecel.
“Because lots of players have tried. And so many great players have come unstuck.
“You’re going in with a different attitude to the time that you won it.
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“If anybody was capable of taking that on their shoulders and not let it affect their performance, it’s Luca Brecel.
“But I think also he’s just as likely to have an absolute dog of a first-round match and get out blown out.
“He’s like the weather. And that’s what makes it fascinating because nobody can predicted what’s going to happen.
“He’s exceptionally unbelievable and a mystery type of character. If anybody can do it, maybe it is him.”
One-hit wonder Joe Johnson, 71, came closest in 1987 when he lost the final 18-14 to Davis.
And popular Irishman Ken Doherty, 54, had real aspirations of retaining the event in 1998 but was defeated 18-12 by John Higgins.
‘CRUCIBLE CURSE VICTIM’
South London-born Davis became world champion in 1981 but was famously embarrassed the following year, hammered 10-1 by Tony Knowles in the first round.
Recalling the moment he became a Crucible Curse victim, The Nugget said: “I had quite a nice season but once it got close to the world championship, all of a sudden I felt the pressure.
“I started to be overawed by the challenge, which was to try and do it again.
“More eyes were on you. Everybody is predicting you’re going to win. Everybody is watching how you’ll react. It weighed heavy on my mind.
“The moment Tony showed form and started to pot some balls I did collapse like the proverbial cheap tent. I just wanted to get away from the place.
“So that’s what can happen and has happened to many people.”
Read more on the Irish Sun
Coverage of the Snooker World Championship kicks off on BBC Two on Saturday from 10am. Regular tournament updates are available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds throughout each day’s play
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