Luca Brecel joins Zhao Xintong in aiming big after strong starts to the season

Luca Brecel is aiming to be in the top four in the world by the end of the season, while Zhao Xintong is eyeing up top spot in the rankings.

Two of the stars of the last campaign have started the new season in strong style, with Zhao topping his first Championship League group on Wednesday and Brecel doing the same on Friday.

The Cyclone won the UK Championship and German Masters last season, finishing the campaign at number six in the world, while the Belgian Bullet’s run to the UK final and then Scottish Open triumph helped him end at number 12.

Brecel reckons he can do some serious climbing in the months to come, setting himself a big challenge of catching the very elite in the top four of the rankings.

Speaking after winning his Championship League group, Brecel said: ‘I played some really good stuff today in all of my games made a lot of breaks and I felt like I was the best player in the group. I’m really happy to be top of the group.

‘I practice a lot during the summer, playing some really good stuff in practice so it’s not a surprise, but it’s always nice to do it on the match table.

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‘I feel like I’m playing a lot better than last season so hopefully it’s going to be a good season again.

‘I don’t have many points to defend this season so the only way is up. If I can get some good results like last season, I could finish maybe top four by the end of the season, so a lot to play for/

‘I’m feeling really good, relaxed and playing good. It’s good.’

Zhao is slightly less bullish, but when asked if he is