Luca Brecel booked his place in the final of the UK Championship before revealing he had almost missed his fourth-round clash with Anthony Hamilton due to being stuck in the toilet of his rented flat.
The Belgian swept in four centuries plus two more breaks over 80 to sink Kyren Wilson 6-4 and will now face Chinese rising star Zhao Xintong, who bludgeoned former world finalist Barry Hawkins 6-1, in the final. If Brecel overcomes Zhao the 26-year-old will become the first player from continental Europe to land a ‘triple crown’ title.
However, he admitted he was reduced to panic earlier in the week when he struggled to escape from the bathroom of his apartment in York. Brecel said: “I was in the apartment and I just locked myself out – I locked the door (of the toilet). I didn’t know how to open it and I thought, oh God, I’m locked in.
“I had to play Anthony Hamilton so I was a bit worried. I was in there for 10 minutes. It felt like two hours. I was worried not to be able to play Hamilton. It was 20 minutes past 12 and it was a 10-minute walk to the venue. I had to walk…
