Struggling world snooker champion Luca Brecel is finally back in form

Luca Brecel seems to be back in form. At the Welsh Open, he reached the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament for the first time in a long time, a pleasing achievement after a difficult period since his world title in 2023.

"Every day I’ve been playing and enjoying it as well," he was quoted by MetroUK after reaching the last eight. "When I do practice I enjoy it every time and just trying to get more fit as well, I’ve lost a bit of weight, I’m on a diet. I’m feeling really good."

"I’ve been practicing a lot and feeling good off the table as well. I’m back!," he said.

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The 2023 World Snooker Championship was a historical one for the sport. At the legendary Crucible Theatre, Luca Brecel became the first mainland European to crown himself world champion. Let's have a look at Belgian's journey to World Cup glory.

Brecel started playing snooker at a very young age. He crowned himself European under-16 champion in Malta and would go on to win several major tournaments thereafter. The youngster's talent was unquestionable at the time, as reported by Eurosport.

Brecel initially played as an amateur for a while, but was later given a wildcard for the 2011-2012 season, allowing him to compete on the Main Tour the following season. He was only 16 years old at the time.

In June 2011, Brecel recorded his first win as a professional by eliminating Anthony Hamilton at the Players Tour Championship (Sheffield).

In 2012, Brecel became the first Belgian ever to qualify for the World Snooker Championship. At 17, he also became the youngest participant ever.

Brecel faced Stephen Maguire in round 1, the then world number 7. The Belgian suffered from his lack of experience and lost 10-5, as documented by the snooker stat site Cue Tracker.

In the 2012-2013 season, Brecel competed in the UK Championship. He defeated Ricky Walden and Mark King and advanced to the quarter-finals, in which he would lose to Shaun Murphy, the then world number 4.

After three appearances in the UK Championship, Brecel competed in the Welsh Open, where he faced then world number 1 Mark Selby in round 4. Brecel eliminated Selby after an exciting match and qualified for the quarter-finals, as covered by Cue Tracker.

In the quarter-finals, Brecel took on Ricky Walden. The Englishman started well, but after a 0-3 deficit Brecel won five frames in a row, becoming the first Belgian ever to qualify for the semi-finals of a ranking tournament.

The Welsh Open clearly did Brecel well, as he performed much more consistent in 2015-2016. In the German Masters, he became the first continental European ever to make it to the final of a ranking tournament. Brecel now seemed to have finally secured his spot at the top.

Brecel would have to wait until 2017, however, to win his first full ranking tournament. He did so at the China Championship, where he beat Shaun Murphy in the final. Another first for a snooker player of continental Europe.

After a long break due to COVID-19, the snooker circuit picked up again in 2020. Brecel immediately performed at the top level, winning the Championship League. In 2022, he would also take home the ranking version of the same tournament.

In 2021, Brecel triumphed at the Scottish Open, his second-ranking tournament win, beating John Higgins 9-5 in the final.

Brecel also competed in the World Snooker Championship several times throughout those years. His relationship with the most important tournament of the year and the mythical Crucible Theatre, however, would be a troubled one.

Brecel had participated in the World Snooker Championship five times before 2023, but never made it past round 1. In 2023, he wanted to end that negative streak.

In round 1 of the 2023 World Snooker Championship, Brecel faced Ricky Walden. The Belgian built a three-frame lead, but Walden fought his way back into the match. Brecel then managed to keep his nerves under control, however, and finished it off 10-9. For the first time ever, Brecel made it into round 2 of the World Snooker Championship.

In round 2, Brecel faced three-time world champion Mark Williams. The match would turn out to be another nail-biter, with Brecel winning 13-11 and securing his spot in the quarter-finals.

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In the quarter-finals, Brecel was up against Ronnie O'Sullivan, a true snooker legend. The Englishman built a 10-6 lead and seemed almost certain of his semi-final spot. Brecel came back, however, and won the match 10-13, joining the last four.

In the semi-finals, Brecel faced Si Jiahui. The young Chinese initially blew his Belgian opponent away and built a 14-5 lead. Si could almost cetrainly book his spot in the final, but Brecel did the impossible by winning 11 frames in a row to take the match. An unprecedented comeback.

The final hurdle to the world title for Brecel would be a tough one: four-time world champion Mark Selby.

The day before, Selby battled out a tough semi-final against Mark Allen and, in the first session, he could not keep up with Brecel. The Belgian played his best snooker and went into the mid-session interval with a 6-2 lead.

After the mid-session interval, we got to see a different Selby. The Englishman immediately fought his way back into the match with a century, before concluding the session with a phenomenal 147. Brecel was still on top with 9-8, but the scoreline made anything possible on day two.

In session 3, Brecel once again played his best snooker. The Belgian gave Selby no chance and built a 10-5 lead.

A competitor like Selby, however, never gives up. Winning five frames in a row, the Brit fought his way back into the match, while Brecel seemed totally lost suddenly, as reported by GB News.

Selby looked ready to level the score, but Brecel pulled himself together just in time. The Belgian took the 32nd and 33rd frames to crown himself snooker world champion for the first time ever, winning 18-15. It was an emotional moment for Brecel, who could not hold back his tears afterwards.

In his late twenties, Luca Brecel is still a young player in the world of snooker. For that reason, his first World Snooker Championship title does not have to be an end point and could just be the beginning of many more great things to come. The future definitely looks bright for the world snooker champion.

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