FINLAND’S Robin Hull claimed Snooker Shootout glory with a 50-36 victory against Luca Brecel in a thrilling final at The Hexagon, writes Richard Ashton.

In a final which ebbed and flowed during an exciting 10 minutes, it was Hull who claimed the £32,000 first prize – the biggest of his career.

And the delighted champion hailed the Reading crowd after sealing a famous success.

He gushed: “I’m over the moon. It’s fantastic and there’s been a great atmosphere to play in.

“It’s a privilege to play for people who enjoy the game.”

Hull had established an early 29-0 lead but, in the process of potting a red, saw the cue ball fall into the bottom-right pocket to give his opponent a real chance.

Brecel – who was runner-up in the German Masters last weekend - failed to capitalise, however, and when Hull extended his lead to 43-7 with less than two minutes remaining, the game seemed up for the Belgian.

But Hull missed a crucial red and ‘The Bullet’ Brecel, appeared set to snatch victory right at the death when he raced to a break of 29 in less than a minute, before a fatal miss on the final red saw his chances scuppered.

And Hull admitted: “I thought when I missed the red that was it, but it shows what a coin-flip it is and I feel very lucky to win. It’s unbelievable.”

Hull had previously defeated two-time World Champion Mark Williams 62-41 in the last four, holding his nerve after his Welsh opponents was unable to cut the final red into the top-left corner pocket with less than two minutes remaining.

Brecel earlier eliminated Northern Ireland’s Joe Swail in the semi-finals, winning an exciting contest 38-34.

The Belgian was in control for most of the game, but Swail was left to rue an attempted treble with 30 seconds remaining which failed to find its target.

In the quarter finals, Hull – who had defeated Craig Steadman and pre-tournament favourite Judd Trump in the opening two rounds - thrashed another Welshman, Ryan Day, 78-7, making an impressive 49 break to seal the victory.

In the other last eight games, Swail edged a low-scoring affair 23-8 against the hotly-tipped Robert Milkins, while Williams knocked out Andrew Higginson 39-20.

Final

Luca Brecel 36-50 Robin Hull

 

Semi Finals

Luca Brecel 38-34 Joe Swail

Mark Williams 41-62 Robin Hull

 

Quarter Finals

Ryan Day 7–78 Robin Hull

Rod Lawler 18–27 Luca Brecel

Mark Williams 39–20 Andrew Higginson

Robert Milkins 8–23 Joe Swail

 

Last 16

Robert Milkins 102-17 David Morris

Luca Brecel 47-31 Ben Woollaston

Ryan Day 57-36 Zhou Yeulong

Ian Burns 21-49 Robin Hull

Jack Lisowski 12-72 Andrew Higginson

Mark Williams 42-13 Joe Perry

Gary Wilson 16-22 Joe Swail

Rod Lawler 61-24 Ali Carter