Evans Excited By Brecel Partnership
For the second consecutive season, Reanne Evans is teaming up with the reigning Crucible king at the World Mixed Doubles. On this occasion, 12-time Women’s World Champion Evans can’t wait to take to the baize alongside Luca Brecel this Saturday.
Evans and Brecel face defending champions Neil Robertson and Mink Nutcharut first up this weekend in a mouth-watering match. Tickets are still available for this showpiece pairs event, which runs from March 30th to 31st at Manchester Central. Click here to buy yours now.
Last season Evans formed a dream team with seven-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, but the duo failed to make beyond the round-robin stage. Evans is hopeful she and Brecel can contend the title match this time around.
“Luca is so good to watch. He’s natural and goes on instinct. Luckily for me he is coming into a bit of form. He is just fantastic. I’ve known him for quite a few years from his junior days when we used to travel on the amateur scene. It is great to see how far he’s come and what he’s achieved. Hopefully we can have some fun out there. Last year it was into the unknown and we didn’t know what to expect. This time we know the format and what to expect. There is still pressure on us to try and perform. This time I want to enjoy it a bit more and go with the flow. Basically be a Luca!”
Evans added: “This is probably the only player I could be paired with that I will maybe play more safety than. It is a great opportunity. You can think about tactics, but you have to think about your natural game and play it. If you start considering whether or not you should go for things, the game is hard enough as it is. I just hope I can go out there and enjoy it. I feel good and confident in my game to go out there and hopefully lift that trophy at the end.”
Looking back on last season’s event, Evans admits it was an incredible experience to partner O’Sullivan, despite not coming away with the trophy they desired.
“It is just an honour to be sat in the seat beside Ronnie. He is the best there has ever been and best there ever will be. It was just fascinating to see he is human and normal. We were having conversations, he was saying he didn’t know when to go for his shots depending on who he was following. Just all the things which I was thinking as well. I didn’t expect that. We play exhibitions together and I get on with him. To hear his thought processes and get some words of wisdom was really helpful. It is an honour to play with these players.”
Evans heads into the World Mixed Doubles having narrowly missed out on a place in the World Women’s Championship final in Dongguan. The event was staged in front of record crowds and Evans faced China’s home hero Bai Yulu in the semi-finals. The 20-year-old trailed Evans 3-0, but turned around the tie to win 5-3 and went on to beat Mink Nutcharut in the final and capture the title. That secured Bai’s place on the professional tour next season and Evans believes she has all the ingredients for success.
“I think she’s definitely going to win matches. It is going to be a big step up for her. She’s playing the top players now but I don’t think she’s scared of that. She’s looking forward to it as a challenge, young, fearless and with no scars. I think that makes her more dangerous. I wish her all the best and it is only good for women’s snooker that she is doing well,” said 38-year-old Evans.
“All those years ago when I was 16 and making an impact, it feels a bit like that. I don’t think we’ve had a player make such an impact. It took On Yee and Mink a little bit of time to make their mark in the game. They have done and that is fantastic to see, but for someone to do it from the off at such a young age is impressive. She is a good cueist and she has a good snooker brain. The thing that I was most impressed by was that she was under pressure being in China and probably the pre tournament favourite. She held herself together well.
“It was a brilliant event and hopefully it is just the start of things to come. We felt like professionals out there. Obviously Bai was the crowd favourite, but that was always going to happen. It was fantastic. I’d have loved to have won, but it wasn’t meant to be. I played quite well out there and felt good.”
