Luca Brecel marches on in quest to earn world No 1 spot

World champion Luca Brecel is targeting the world number one spot after a rousing fightback saw him edge Robbie Williams in the European Masters in Nuremberg.

Brecel will eclipse Ronnie O'Sullivan at the summit if he wins two matches on Friday to book his place in the semi-finals of the event.

The Belgian fell 3-0 behind against Williams but hit back to clinch a 5-4 win and set up a meeting with Barry Hawkins at the next stage.

"I have a good chance now [to become world number one]," Brecel told wst.tv.

"I'm only two games away and there is a lot to play for. It is something new for me to play for so much.

"There have been world champions who have struggled in the past, but I kind of like it. Now I am world champion, I have a responsibility to the crowd and to snooker in general."

Also among the winners on Thursday were Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson, who whitewashed Ben Woollaston and Duane Jones respectively.

Meanwhile John Higgins fired two century breaks as he clinched a high-quality contest against Shaun Murphy 5-2 to join them at the next stage.