O’Sullivan admits he is running out of time to land record eighth Crucible crown after Brecel defeat

Ronnie O’Sullivan admits he is running out of time to land a record eighth Crucible crown following his jaw-dropping defeat to Luca Brecel.

The 47-year-old was left stunned in his seat on Wednesday as ninth seed Brecel reeled off seven straight frames to claim an incredible 13-10 comeback win in the World Championship quarter-finals.

Afterwards, a gracious O’Sullivan was full of praise for the booze-loving Belgian and fellow maverick, who he now hopes goes on to lift the trophy for the first time.

But the Rocket was also left wondering whether he will ever manage to surpass Stephen Hendry and claim the outright record for most world titles, having drawn level with the legendary Scot on seven last year.

Asked if he thought he would win No 8 one day, O’Sullivan replied: ‘I don’t know. I’m not as bothered about it as everyone else is.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s hopes of eighth World Championship title came to an end on Wednesday

‘I will probably come here for the next three or four years, probably play well in one of those occasions and that will be my chance.

‘But I am not driven by it. I have to keep answering those questions because I know everybody wants to talk about it, but I have a good perspective on my life.

‘My family comes first. I am not just a pure snooker player any more. I have to do what’s right for my family.

‘If that means I am not as focused as what most people think you should be, so be it. But I have still managed to win seven world titles.

‘There are some deals that I hope to sign and they will set me up for playing properly next year. But if they don’t happen, then I will probably play an even more reduced schedule. It’s a numbers game for me.’

O’Sullivan was the overwhelming favourite to reach the semi-finals after leading Brecel 10-6 overnight. But the Belgian Bullet came out firing in his trademark attacking style, capitalising on every mistake by the world No1 and compiling breaks of 112, 64, 72, 61, 78 and 63.

It was the first time O’Sullivan had failed to win a frame in a Crucible session since his 17-11 loss to Graeme Dott in the 2006 semi-final.

And he conceded: ‘If it was a boxing match they would have stopped it very early on.

The seven-time world champion had led 6-2 and 10-6 in the quarter-final tie at the Crucible

‘He just blitzed me today. That’s what you do to someone that misses a few balls – just smash them all over the gaff. There is no kindness in this game.

‘It’s hard to win this tournament if I don’t flow. There is only so much hanging on you can do at the Crucible. It catches up on you. Eventually someone plays well against you and puts you away.

‘In some ways it’s a blessing that I didn’t have to carry on playing because it was hard work, I wasn’t really firing.

‘But I can go back out running again now. Thank God. I have had 10 days off. I had to have my waistcoat made a bit bigger. I have to get this little bit of lump off.’

Brecel had never won a match at the Crucible in five previous visits, having become the youngest ever player to make his debut here aged 17 in 2012.

But O’Sullivan added: ‘He is probably the most talented snooker player I have ever seen. I would love to go and see him win it just for snooker because that is how the game should be played.’

This result was even more extraordinary considering Brecel put in just 15 minutes practice before the tournament – and was as ‘drunk as hell’ last weekend following his second-round win over three-time champion Mark Williams.

‘I am not surprised to play like that but it is amazing to beat someone like Ronnie from so far behind,’ admitted Brecel.

‘Before the tournament I was just out partying, staying up late to 6am and 7am, playing Fifa with my friends, having drinks, not practising.

‘Even after I beat Mark Williams, I went home to Belgium. I got home at 7am by car. That same day we went out to 6am.

‘I wasn’t sick but I was gone. Drunk as hell. The next day I had to come back here. I drove up again.

Luca Brecel reeled off seven fames on the trot in the final session to complete a 13-10 victory

‘No one is like me. I am a bit crazy. It’s totally different preparation – but it is working.’

In the other half of the draw, Mark Allen secured his first semi-final appearance since 2009 with a 13-10 victory over Jak Jones.

The Northern Irish third seed said: ‘It wasn’t pretty at times but who cares? I got the 13 frames and that was the target at the start. It was a complete slog and it was just a matter of digging deep.

‘I have won that with my B and C games. It was a three or four out of 10 performance but mentally it was a 12 out of 10.’