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Luca Brecel
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Luca Brecel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlukaː breːˈsɛl];[2] born 8 March 1995) is a Belgian professional snooker player. A four-time ranking event winner, Brecel is a former World Snooker Champion, having won the 2023 event by defeating four-time champion Mark Selby in the final. Brecel trailed Si Jiahui 5–14 in the semi-final, but recovered to win 17–15. This comeback from nine frames behind is the biggest deficit ever overturned in the history of the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre. He became the first player from mainland Europe to win the World Championship.

Key Information

He was also the first player from mainland Europe to win a ranking event when he won the 2017 China Championship, and then went on to win other ranking events: the 2021 Scottish Open and 2022 Championship League. He is the youngest player to compete in the World Snooker Championship making his debut in 2012, aged 17 years and 45 days losing to Stephen Maguire in the first round.

Brecel won the 2009 European Under-19 title at the age of 14, and turned professional in 2011. He reached the top 16 in the world rankings in 2017, and reached his first Triple Crown final at the 2021 UK Championship, but lost 5–10 to Zhao Xintong.[3] A week later, he defeated John Higgins 9–5 to win the 2021 Scottish Open.

Since winning his world title in 2023, Brecel's form has declined. Withdrawing from multiple events in the subsequent seasons citing physical health reasons and having reached only one ranking event semi-final, his world ranking fell to 43 by the end of 2025.[4][5]

Early life and amateur career

[edit]

Luca Brecel was born in 1995[6] in Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium.[7] His father Carlo was a "hail hunter", following storms to work repairing the damage from them, and his mother Mirella was a homemaker.[8] Brecel began playing snooker when he was nine, having played pool with his father during a family holiday.[8][9] The family lived in Maasmechelen, where Brecel started receiving coaching from Danny Moermans, and later moved to a property where they installed a snooker table he could use.[8] He began being homeschooled, allowing him more time to practice snooker.[8] He scored his first competitive century break at 12.[9]

In April 2009, Brecel became the youngest European Under-19 champion, at 14 years of age, in a 6–5 victory against Michael Wasley in Saint Petersburg.[9][8] The victory would have earned him a place on the professional snooker tour, except that the minimum age to join the tour was 16.[8] In the Grand Final of the World Series of Snooker in Portugal in May, Brecel beat six-time World Championship runner-up Jimmy White 4–3 and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty 5–3. He lost 4–5 to 2006 world champion Graeme Dott in the quarter-finals.[10] In August 2009, he beat Joe Perry, then world number 12, at the Paul Hunter Classic.[11] Around this time, Brecel's family relocated to a larger home in Maasmechelen so they could fit a full-size practice table.[12]

In January 2010, Brecel beat seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry 4–1 in an exhibition game in Bruges.[13] In May of that year, Brecel beat professional compatriot Bjorn Haneveer 7–4 to become Belgian senior champion. His break of 136 was the highest of the tournament.[14] Brecel was one of eight players who participated in the new Power Snooker tournament at the indigO2 in October 2010, alongside then reigning world champion Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Shaun Murphy, Jimmy White, and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Brecel was defeated by eventual winner O'Sullivan in the first round.[15] In December 2010, Brecel was named Belgian Sportsman of the Year in the Promising Talent category.[16]

Professional career

[edit]

Early professional years (2011–2015)

[edit]
Brecel in 2011

In May 2011, Brecel received a wild card for the main tour of the professional 2011–12 season.[17] Brecel turned professional in the following month, beating Anthony Hamilton in his first official professional match. By August, he was ranked number 87 on the snooker world rankings. In January 2012, Brecel made his first maximum break in an amateur tournament.[18] Brecel played in all 12 of the minor-ranking Players Tour Championship finishing 69th on the Order of Merit.[19][20]

Aged 17, Brecel became the youngest ever player to qualify for the World Snooker Championship at the 2012 event,[21] after he defeated Ian McCulloch, Barry Pinches, Michael Holt and Mark King to qualify. In doing so he broke the record of Stephen Hendry from 1986, who was almost two months older than Brecel. This was his first ranking event main draw,[22] but he lost 5–10 in the first round against Stephen Maguire.[23]

Although finishing the season outside the top 64 in the world rankings who automatically retain their places on the snooker tour, Brecel received a two-year wildcard, along with Tony Drago. Barry Hearn, the chairman of World Snooker said the decision was made as it would be a "loss to the sport" if Brecel did not feature.[24] Brecel was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award at the World Snooker Annual Award Ceremony.[25]

In July 2012, Brecel made his second maximum break in an amateur tournament.[26] In qualifying for the first ranking event of the season, the 2012 Wuxi Classic, Brecel reached the third qualifying round but lost 5–4 to Jamie Burnett making three century breaks.[27]

At the first PTC event of 2012, Brecel defeated Graeme Dott and Ken Doherty on his way to the last 16, where he met Judd Trump, who beat him 4–1.[28] He finished 51st on the PTC Order of Merit.[29]

Brecel qualified for the 2012 UK Championship after coming through four rounds of qualifying. He beat Scott Donaldson 6–5, Peter Lines 6–4, Liu Chuang 6–3 and Peter Ebdon 6–1, making five century breaks in the process, to reach the main draw of a ranking event for the second time.[30] He won his first match in a ranking event by beating Ricky Walden 6–5 in the first round. He followed this up with a 6–4 win over Mark King, despite trailing 0–3.[31] He was eventually defeated 6–5 in the quarter-final by Shaun Murphy, having missed a pink which would have given him an opportunity to win on the final black in each of the last two frames.[32]

Following this success, Brecel failed to win any other qualifying match for the rest of the season. He was beaten 6–10 by amateur Fraser Patrick in the first round of World Championship qualifying.[33] He ended his second year as a professional ranked world number 72.[34]

Luca Brecel at the 2014 German Masters

Brecel lost in the qualifying rounds for the first five ranking events of the 2013–14 season,[35] but received automatic entry into the first round of the UK Championship as all 128 players on the tour were admitted. He began the event defeating Mike Dunn 6–4, but then lost 5–6 to Stephen Maguire, despite having held a 5–2 lead.[36] Brecel qualified for the next ranking event, the German Masters, by defeating James Wattana 5–3, but was eliminated by Joe Perry 2–5 in the opening round.[35] His best result of the year came at the penultimate ranking event of the season, the China Open where he reached the second round thanks to the withdrawal of Mark Allen. Brecel then beat Dominic Dale 5–1 in the last 16, but missed out on his second career quarter-final as he lost 2–5 against Graeme Dott.[37] In the minor-ranking European Tour events played throughout the season, Brecel advanced to the quarter-finals of the Ruhr Open by defeating Stuart Bingham 4–1, but was then beaten by Robbie Williams in a deciding frame by 73 points to 72.[38] He finished 39th on the European Order of Merit and inside the top 64 in the world ranking for the first time, at number 63.[39][40]

The first ranking event Brecel qualified for in the 2014–15 season was the Australian Goldfields Open where he was defeated by Matthew Stevens 3–5 in the opening round.[41] He was whitewashed 0–6 by Mark Allen in the second round of the 2014 UK Championship.[42] At the 2015 Welsh Open he defeated world number 15 Robert Milkins 4–0 in the opening round, Tian Pengfei 4–1 and Oliver Brown 4–0. In the second match he made a break of 140, the highest in his professional career and ultimately the highest in the tournament.[41] He went on to beat reigning world champion and world number one Mark Selby in the fourth round after a deciding frame, 4–3, to reach the quarter-finals.[43] There, Brecel met Ricky Walden, ranked number 9 at the time. Brecel lost the first three frames, but won the next five, to reach the first ranking semi-final of his professional career.[44] In the semi-final, he lost to John Higgins 4–6.[45] A pair of quarter-final exits in the European Tour events saw Brecel finish 16th on the Order of Merit, to make his debut in the Grand Final, where he lost 0–4 to Judd Trump in the opening round.[46] Brecel moved up 19 places in the rankings to finish 44th in the world.[47]

First ranking event win (2015–2019)

[edit]
Brecel (right) playing Kyren Wilson at the 2016 German Masters.

After failing to qualify for the 2015 Australian Goldfields Open and exiting both the 2015 Shanghai Masters and 2015 International Championship in the first round, Brecel then beat Hossein Vafaei 6–1, Anthony McGill 6–4 and Robin Hull 6–2 to reach the fourth round of the 2015 UK Championship.[48] He subsequently lost to Matthew Selt 4–6 after being 3–1 up in the interval.[49] After beating Zhao Xintong 5–2 and Kurt Maflin 5–3 he reached his first quarter-final of the season soon afterwards at the German Masters, where he recovered from 2–4 down to defeat Mark Joyce 5–4, closing the match with a 102 break.[50] Brecel then won a scrappy game 6–3 in the semi-finals against Kyren Wilson to become only the second European player from outside the UK and Ireland, after Tony Drago, to play in a ranking event final, and the first from Belgium.[51] In the final, Brecel lost 9–5 to Martin Gould, but targeted a top 20 world ranking before the end of the season.[52] He lost in the final of the 2016 Snooker Shoot-Out to Robin Hull.[53] Brecel was beaten in the fourth round of the 2016 Welsh Open (snooker) 2–4 by Ding Junhui and, after losing in the first round of three successive ranking events and failing to qualify for the 2016 World Snooker Championship, he finished the year at 30th in the world, at the time the highest he finished a campaign.[48][54]

Brecel did not get past the first round of any of the first seven ranking events he entered in the 2016–17 season, before he restricted Shaun Murphy to eight points and defeated him 4–0 in the opening round of the Northern Ireland Open.[55] He then beat Jamie Cope 4–2, before losing 1–4 to Michael White. At the UK Championship, Brecel whitewashed Aditya Mehta 6–0 and then overcame Sam Craigie 6–5, Yu Delu 6–1 and Stephen Maguire 6–3 to play Murphy in the quarter-finals of the event for the second time.[56] Murphy won the quarter-final 6–1.[57] Brecel qualified for the World Championship for the second time at the 2017 World Snooker Championship and raced in to a 7–1 lead over Marco Fu in the first round,[58] before losing 9–10.[59]

Brecel won his first ranking title, the 2017 China Championship in August 2017. He defeated Jimmy Robertson, Marco Fu, and Mike Dunn, before defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan 5–4 in the quarter-finals after being 1–4 down. He then defeated Li Hang 6–5 in the semi-finals, before defeating Shaun Murphy 10–5 in the final. His victory propelled him into the top 16 of the rankings for the first time.[60] A month later, at the World Open, Brecel confirmed his status as a top 16 player with a semi-final finish, winning three consecutive rounds in deciding frames, before losing to eventual winner Ding Junhui 6–4.[61]

Having won the China Championship, Brecel was invited to the 2017 Champion of Champions invitational tournament. He completed a whitewash of Judd Trump 4–0 in the first round and defeated reigning world champion Mark Selby 6–4. In the semi-final, he suffered a 6–4 defeat to Shaun Murphy, who went on to win the tournament.[62][63]

At the 2018 Northern Ireland Open, Brecel lost in the last 16 to the eventual winner Judd Trump.[64] He also reached the last 16 in the 2019 Snooker Shoot Out[65] and the semi-finals of the non-ranking 2018 Six-red World Championship and the 2019 China Open.[66] At the 2019 World Snooker Championship, he lost 10–9 in the first round to Gary Wilson, with the deciding frame lasting a record 79 minutes.[67] He finished this season again as world number 19.[68]

Ranking titles and world champion (2020–present)

[edit]
Brecel at the 2022 European Masters

Brecel's best result in a ranking tournament in the 2019-20 snooker season was an appearance in the last 16 of the Welsh Open, in which he lost 4–3 to John Higgins. During this season he dropped out of the top 32.[69] In June 2020, he won the non-ranking Championship League, beating Stuart Bingham in the final group and drawing against Ryan Day and Ben Woollaston.[70]

Brecel reached the quarter-finals of the 2021 English Open in which he lost 5–1 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Brecel reached the final of the 2021 UK Championship. This made him the first player from continental Europe to appear in the final of a Triple Crown event. On his way to the final, Brecel completed a whitewash of Stephen Maguire and beat Kyren Wilson 6–4 in the semi-final, with four centuries during the match. In the final he lost 10–5 to Zhao Xintong. As runner-up, Brecel moved up the world rankings from 40th to 18th.[71] In the following week he won his second ranking event, the Scottish Open.[72] He defeated Higgins in the final 9‍–‍5.[73]

During the 2022–23 season, Brecel won his third ranking title at the 2022 Championship League,[74] and also made it to the final of the 2022 English Open.[75]

At the 2023 World Snooker Championship, he was finally able to win his first match at the tournament, after five failed attempts. In the last-sixteen stage, he defeated three-time winner Mark Williams. In his quarter-final match, he faced the defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. He trailed O'Sullivan 6–10 after the first two sessions, but won all seven frames played in the final session to win the match 13–10.[76] O'Sullivan subsequently said he would like to see Brecel go on to win the tournament. In the semi-final he trailed Si Jiahui 5–14 early in the third session, before Brecel won eleven consecutive frames to take a 16–14 lead, and won the match 17–15.[77] In the final, he faced four-time champion Mark Selby. Brecel took a 6–2 lead after the first session, before having his lead cut to 9–8 in the second. He then won six of the eight frames in the third session to lead 15–10.[78] In the fourth session, Selby reduced the deficit to 16–15, but Brecel won the next two frames to win the match 18–15.[79] In winning the World Championship, Brecel was the first player from continental Europe to do so, and the first player not from Australia, Canada, Ireland or the United Kingdom to win the championship.[80]

He did not have great success in the 2023–2024 season: his best ranking-tournament result being a quarter-final in the Welsh Open, and only twice otherwise did he reach the last 16 of a ranking tournament. He fared better in two non-ranking tournaments, reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters, and the inaugural World Masters of Snooker in Riyadh, losing to O'Sullivan in both occasions: but went on to lose in the first round at the Crucible against qualifier David Gilbert, losing four frames in a row from a 9–6 lead to lose the match 10–9.

Style of play

[edit]

Brecel's style of play has been described as "very aggressive, very attacking" and "all-out attacking".[81] His swashbuckling and flamboyant style of play has received praise and drawn comparisons with Alex Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan.[82]

Performance and rankings timeline

[edit]
Tournament 2008/
09 		2010/
11 		2011/
12 		2012/
13 		2013/
14 		2014/
15 		2015/
16 		2016/
17 		2017/
18 		2018/
19 		2019/
20 		2020/
21 		2021/
22 		2022/
23 		2023/
24 		2024/
25 		2025/
26
Ranking[nb 1] [nb 2] [nb 2] [nb 3] [nb 4] 72 63 44 30 27 15 15 38 39 12 2 4 39
Ranking tournaments
Championship League Non-Ranking Event RR RR W A A WD
Saudi Arabia Masters Tournament Not Held 5R WD
Wuhan Open Tournament Not Held WD LQ WD
English Open Tournament Not Held 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R QF F 3R 2R QF
British Open Tournament Not Held 3R LQ LQ 3R WD
Xi'an Grand Prix Tournament Not Held WD WD
Northern Ireland Open Tournament Not Held 3R WD 4R 3R 3R 2R 3R A 2R 1R
International Championship Not Held LQ LQ LQ 1R 1R 2R LQ 2R Not Held 1R LQ LQ
UK Championship A A LQ QF 2R 2R 4R QF 3R 3R 1R 2R F 2R 2R 1R LQ
Shoot Out Non-Ranking Event 3R 3R 4R 1R 1R 2R 1R A A 3R
Scottish Open Not Held MR Not Held 1R A 3R 1R 2R W LQ 2R QF WD
German Masters NH WR LQ LQ 1R LQ F LQ LQ LQ 2R 2R 2R 2R LQ 2R LQ
World Grand Prix Tournament Not Held NR 1R DNQ 1R DNQ DNQ DNQ 2R 2R DNQ DNQ DNQ
Players Championship[nb 5] NH DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 1R 1R DNQ 1R DNQ DNQ DNQ 1R QF DNQ DNQ DNQ
Welsh Open A A LQ LQ 1R SF 4R 1R 2R 1R 4R 1R LQ 3R QF SF
World Open[nb 6] A LQ LQ LQ LQ Not Held 1R SF 2R 1R Not Held 2R WD
Tour Championship Tournament Not Held DNQ DNQ DNQ SF DNQ DNQ DNQ
World Championship A A 1R LQ LQ LQ LQ 1R 1R 1R LQ LQ 1R W 1R QF
Non-ranking tournaments
Shanghai Masters Ranking Event 1R A Not Held F 2R A
Champion of Champions Tournament Not Held A A A A SF 1R A 1R A 1R 1R 1R A
Riyadh Season Championship[nb 7] Tournament Not Held F F A
The Masters A A A A A A A A 1R QF A A A 1R 1R QF A
Championship League A A A A A A A A RR WD RR W A A WD A A
Former ranking tournaments
Wuxi Classic[nb 8] NH Non-Ranking LQ LQ LQ Tournament Not Held
Australian Goldfields Open Not Held LQ LQ LQ 1R LQ Tournament Not Held
Shanghai Masters A A LQ LQ LQ LQ 1R LQ QF Non-Ranking Not Held Non-Ranking
Paul Hunter Classic PA Minor-Ranking Event 1R 2R 3R NR Tournament Not Held
Indian Open Tournament Not Held LQ 2R NH WD 1R 3R Tournament Not Held
China Open A A LQ LQ 3R LQ 1R LQ 1R SF Tournament Not Held
Riga Masters[nb 9] Tournament Not Held Minor-Ranking 1R 2R 1R 1R Tournament Not Held
China Championship Tournament Not Held NR W 1R 3R Tournament Not Held
WST Pro Series Tournament Not Held 2R Tournament Not Held
Turkish Masters Tournament Not Held 2R Tournament Not Held
Gibraltar Open Tournament Not Held MR 3R 1R 1R 3R 2R 3R Tournament Not Held
WST Classic Tournament Not Held 1R Not Held
European Masters Tournament Not Held 1R 3R 3R 1R 3R 2R 1R 3R Not Held
Former non-ranking tournaments
World Series Grand Final QF Tournament Not Held
Power Snooker NH QF A Tournament Not Held
World Grand Prix Tournament Not Held 1R Ranking Event
Shoot Out NH A A A 1R 2R F Ranking Event
Romanian Masters Tournament Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
Paul Hunter Classic PA Minor-Ranking Event Ranking Event SF Tournament Not Held
Six-red World Championship[nb 10] A A NH A A A A QF WD SF RR Not Held WD Not Held
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) 		QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did not qualify for the tournament A did not participate in the tournament WD withdrew from the tournament
NH / Not Held means an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.
MR / Minor-Ranking Event means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
PA / Pro-am Event means an event is/was a pro-am event.
  1. ^ It shows the ranking at the beginning of the season
  2. ^ a b He was an amateur
  3. ^ New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking
  4. ^ Players qualified through European nomination started the season without ranking points
  5. ^ The event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Final (2010/2011–2015/2016)
  6. ^ The event was called the Grand Prix (2008/2009)
  7. ^ The event was called the World Masters of Snooker (2023/2024)
  8. ^ The event was called the Jiangsu Classic (2008/2009)
  9. ^ The event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)
  10. ^ The event was called the Six-red Snooker International (2008/2009)

Career finals

[edit]

Ranking finals: 7 (4 titles)

[edit]
Legend
World Championship (1–0)
UK Championship (0–1)
Other (3–2)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Runner-up 1. 2016 German Masters  Martin Gould (ENG) 5–9 [83]
Winner 1. 2017 China Championship  Shaun Murphy (ENG) 10–5 [84]
Runner-up 2. 2021 UK Championship  Zhao Xintong (CHN) 5–10 [85]
Winner 2. 2021 Scottish Open  John Higgins (SCO) 9–5 [86]
Winner 3. 2022 Championship League  Lu Ning (CHN) 3–1 [87]
Runner-up 3. 2022 English Open  Mark Selby (ENG) 6–9 [88]
Winner 4. 2023 World Snooker Championship  Mark Selby (ENG) 18–15 [89]

Non-ranking finals: 5 (1 title)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Runner-up 1. 2016 Snooker Shoot Out  Robin Hull (FIN) 0–1 [90]
Winner 1. 2020 Championship League (June)  Ben Woollaston (ENG) Round-Robin [91]
Runner-up 2. 2023 Shanghai Masters  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 9–11 [92]
Runner-up 3. 2024 World Masters of Snooker  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 2–5 [93]
Runner-up 4. 2024 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship  Mark Allen (NIR) 1–5 [94]

Pro-am finals: 6 (5 titles)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1. 2013 Dutch Open  Bjorn Haneveer (BEL) 5–3 [95]
Winner 2. 2014 3 Kings Open  Tony Drago (MLT) 5–4 [96]
Runner-up 1. 2015 3 Kings Open  Tony Drago (MLT) 4–5 [96]
Winner 3. 2018 Golden Q Cup  Michael Georgiou (CYP) 5–1 [97]
Winner 4. 2020 3 Kings Open (2)  Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI) 5–2 [98]
Winner 5. 2020 Italian Snooker Open  Sybren Sokolowski (BEL) 4–1 [99]

Team finals (1 title)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Team/partner Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1. 2024 World Mixed Doubles  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Mark Selby (ENG)
 Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 		4–2 [100]

Amateur titles

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1. 2007 Belgian Under-16 Championship  Jurian Heusdens (BEL) 4–2 [101]
Winner 2. 2008 Belgian Under-16 Championship  Glenn Dossche (BEL) 4–0 [101]
Winner 3. 2009 Belgian Under-16 Championship  Kenny Saynave (BEL) 4–0 [101]
Winner 4. 2010 Belgian Under-16 Championship  Glenn Dossche (BEL) 4–0 [101]
Winner 5. 2009 European Under-19 Championship  Michael Wasley (ENG) 6–5 [102][103]
Winner 6. 2010 Belgian Amateur Championship  Bjorn Haneveer (BEL) 7–4 [104]
Winner 7. 2010 European Amateur Championship  Roy Stolk (NED) 7–4 [105]
Winner 8. 2013 Belgian Amateur Championship  Yvan Van Velthoven (BEL) 7–1 [104]
Winner 9. 2014 Belgian Amateur Championship  Yvan Van Velthoven (BEL) 7–5 [104]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Luca Brecel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Luca Brecel (born 8 March 1995) is a Belgian professional player renowned for becoming the first from mainland to win a ranking tournament and the [World Snooker Championship](/page/World Snooker Championship). Born in , he turned professional in 2011 after dominating junior events, including the European Under-19 Championship at age 14 in 2009. Brecel made history as the youngest player to qualify for the televised stages of the World Championship in 2012 at age 17, surpassing Stephen Hendry's record. His breakthrough professional victory came in 2017 at the China Championship, where he defeated Shaun Murphy 10-5 to claim his first ranking title and etch his name as the inaugural continental European ranking event winner. He added further ranking successes with the Scottish Open in 2021 (9-5 over John Higgins), the Championship League in 2020 and 2022, and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in 2023. The pinnacle of Brecel's career arrived in 2023 when he captured the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, defeating Mark Selby 18-15 in the final to become only the fourth non-UK world champion and the first Belgian to achieve the feat. During the tournament, he compiled his first maximum 147 break against Higgins and contested a record 131 frames as champion. In 2024, he partnered with Reanne Evans to win the World Mixed Doubles title, showcasing versatility beyond singles play. As of November 2025, Brecel holds the world ranking of No. 40, following a semi-final appearance at the Welsh Open and a quarter-final run at the . Known for his aggressive, attacking style dubbed the "Belgian Bullet," he has four ranking titles overall, including one Triple Crown event, and continues to represent as the nation's sole professional on the .

Early years

Early life

Luca Brecel was born on 8 March 1995 in , . He grew up in , a town in the of Limburg province near the Dutch border, in a close-knit family environment. Brecel is the son of Carlo Brecel and Mirella Cocco, who provided a supportive home in the former coal-mining community.

Introduction to snooker

Luca Brecel's fascination with began at a young age, sparked by playing pool during a family holiday in his . His father, recognizing his interest in , introduced him to the game by taking him to the local Snooker Sports club in , , when Brecel was around eight years old. This marked his initial foray into structured environments, where he quickly demonstrated a natural aptitude, often spending hours observing and practicing alongside family members at home. At the club, Brecel received early guidance from local players who noticed his innate talent and focus, though much of his foundational technique was self-taught through dedicated repetition and trial-and-error. Born to a Belgian family in the Limburg region, he balanced these early sessions with informal play against peers, including childhood friend Poulios, fostering his competitive instincts in casual settings. By age 10, Brecel had progressed to making his first , transitioning from ad-hoc matches to more organized junior practice routines that honed his break-building skills and positional play.

Amateur career

Junior achievements

Brecel demonstrated exceptional talent from a young age, winning the Belgian Under-16 Championship in 2008 at the age of 13. That same year, he claimed the Belgian Under-21 Championship, defeating significantly older competitors in the national event. These victories marked his first major domestic successes and highlighted his ability to compete against more experienced players. In 2009, Brecel achieved international recognition by winning the European Under-19 Championship in , , becoming the youngest-ever champion at 14 years old after a 6–5 final victory over England's Michael Wasley. He also defended his Belgian Under-16 and Under-21 titles that year, further solidifying his status as a prodigy. By age 14, his accomplishments drew media attention in , where he was hailed as the country's emerging sensation. Brecel's junior career peaked in 2010 at age 15, when he won the European Snooker Championship (men's event) in Bucharest, Romania, defeating Dutch player Roy Stolk 7–4 in the final after trailing early. This triumph provided his first major continental exposure beyond juniors. He also captured the Belgian Amateur Championship that year, beating senior national champion Bjorn Haneveer 7–4 in the final while compiling the tournament's highest break of 136. These results, including upsets against adult opponents, earned him qualification for the 2010 IBSF World Under-21 Championship and cemented his reputation as one of snooker's brightest young talents.

Key amateur tournaments

Brecel's transition to senior-level amateur competition was marked by his outstanding performance at the 2009 EBSA European Under-19 Championship, where he claimed victory at the age of 14, becoming the youngest winner in the event's history. This achievement highlighted his prodigious talent and set the stage for further successes in higher-stakes tournaments. In 2010, Brecel elevated his profile by winning the open-age EBSA European Championship in , , defeating Dutch player Roy Stolk 7-4 in the final to secure the title at just 15 years old, making him the youngest champion ever in the senior category. This victory not only cemented his reputation across but also earned him qualification for the professional tour, though age eligibility rules delayed his entry; he was subsequently awarded a wildcard for the 2011–12 Main Tour season. Brecel also excelled domestically, capturing the Belgian Amateur Championship in 2010 as the youngest winner in its . He won the Belgian Under-16 three times (2007, 2008, 2009). His competitive edge extended to pro-am events, where he faced established . These accomplishments, including multiple national and international titles, underscored Brecel's dominant record and paved the way for his professional breakthrough without needing to navigate the standard Q School qualification process.

Professional career

Debut and early professional years (2011–2015)

Brecel earned a two-year professional tour card for the 2011–12 season through a wildcard invitation from World Snooker, becoming the youngest player ever to receive one at age 16. This opportunity came after his dominant amateur performances, including multiple wins against professionals in Players Tour Championship events as a wildcard entrant. In his debut professional match at the 2011 PTC Event 1 in Sheffield, Brecel defeated Anthony Hamilton 4–0, marking his first win on the main tour. He followed this with a competitive run to the last 32 in several early PTC events, showcasing his potential with a 119 break against Robert Milkins in the 2011 PTC Event 6. His strongest result that year came at the 2012 Paul Hunter Classic, where he advanced to the last 16 by beating Zhang Anda 4–0 before losing 1–4 to Jamie Burnett. Despite these highlights, Brecel struggled with consistency, often exiting early in qualifiers and finishing the season ranked 76th with £19,400 in prize money. Brecel's form remained erratic into 2012–13 and 2013–14, with frequent first-round defeats leading to a drop outside the provisional top 64 by the end of the latter season. To retain his tour status, he entered the 2014 Q School, where he secured a new two-year card by reaching the final stages in Event 2. Amid these challenges, he produced occasional upsets, such as a 5–1 victory over in the qualifying rounds of the 2014 Australian Goldfields Open. These moments demonstrated his raw talent but underscored the difficulties of establishing consistency against seasoned professionals.

Breakthrough and first ranking win (2016–2019)

Brecel's breakthrough came in the 2017–18 season when he reached his first ranking event final at the China Championship in . In the quarter-finals, he staged a dramatic comeback to defeat seven-time world champion 6–5 after trailing 1–4, showcasing his resilience and flair under pressure. He followed this with a 6–5 semi-final victory over Li Hang before claiming the title with a 10–5 win over in the final, earning £175,000 and becoming the first player from to win a . This triumph marked a pivotal moment, propelling Brecel into the world's top 16 for the first time and boosting his confidence after years of inconsistent results. The victory catalyzed a period of improved consistency, with Brecel securing several last-16 finishes across the and other events during 2017–18, including a quarter-final run at the where he overcame 10–9 in the last 16 after recovering from a 3–6 deficit. His prize money surged to £318,430 for the season, a fivefold increase from £62,550 the previous year, reflecting deeper tournament runs and higher earnings from ranking points. In the 2018–19 season, Brecel continued his ascent with strong showings in , culminating in a semi-final appearance at the China Open in . He dominated en route, whitewashing 6–0 in the last 16 and thrashing 6–1 in the quarter-finals, before falling 7–10 to in the last four, securing £45,000. This performance, combined with last-16 advances at the and Welsh Open, helped him maintain momentum despite occasional early exits. By the end of 2019, Brecel had climbed to world number 15, with seasonal earnings of £194,385, solidifying his status as an emerging force on the tour.

World Championship success and titles (2020–2023)

Brecel's success in the 2020–2023 period marked a significant escalation in his career, culminating in three additional ranking titles that elevated his profile on the . His first title in this timeframe came at the 2020 , where he topped the final group stage undefeated, securing the win with a strong performance in the decisive matches. This victory, held amid the adaptations, demonstrated his adaptability and consistency in a format emphasizing short-match pressure. The following season, Brecel claimed his second ranking title at the 2021 Scottish Open, defeating John Higgins 9–5 in the final. This breakthrough not only boosted his confidence but also highlighted his growing prowess in high-stakes finals, compiling a tournament-high break of 137. By the 2022–23 season, he added a third title at the Championship League, navigating the group stages before beating Lu Ning 3–1 in the final at the Morningside Arena. This win, his first ranking event of the season, reinforced his status as a top contender and brought his career total to four ranking titles. Brecel's pinnacle achievement arrived at the 2023 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, where he embarked on an improbable run to the title without a prior win at the venue. In the second round, he overcame Mark Williams 13–11 after trailing early, showcasing resilience in a tight contest. The quarter-finals saw a dramatic comeback against , where Brecel rallied from 4–10 down to win 13–10, including a crucial 138 break in the deciding frame. The semi-finals produced the greatest comeback in Crucible history, as he trailed 5–14 before reeling off 11 consecutive frames to triumph 17–15. In the final, Brecel held off a late surge from four-time champion , securing an 18–15 victory to claim his first Triple Crown title and become the first player from mainland Europe to win the world crown. His path featured multiple recoveries, including against Bingham in earlier preparation but most notably at the Crucible itself, underscoring his mental fortitude under pressure. Post-victory, Brecel's candid admission of forgoing practice in favor of celebrating—famously stating, "This has been a crazy week, no practice, just partying"—sparked widespread media interest in his unconventional, free-spirited approach, contrasting the sport's typical discipline while endearing him to fans. The triumph propelled him to a career-high world ranking of number two, reflecting the immense impact of his heroics.

Recent performances (2024–present)

Brecel began the 2024–25 snooker season strongly by reaching the final of the in March 2024, where he lost 5–2 to . Later that year, in December 2024, he again finished as runner-up at the , falling 5–1 to Mark Allen in the final after defeating Mark Williams and en route. These performances contributed to a solid start, with Brecel also advancing to the last 16 at the 2024 before a 5–3 defeat to . However, inconsistencies emerged later in 2024, notably in the Wuhan Open qualifiers, where Brecel suffered a shock 5–4 loss to in the opening round, preventing him from qualifying for the main draw. This early exit highlighted broader struggles, as Brecel's form dipped amid discussions of potential risks to his professional tour card due to defending substantial from his 2023 victory. Despite these setbacks, he ended the 2024–25 season with over £339,000 in , bolstered by deep runs in major events. Entering 2025, Brecel showed signs of recovery at the Welsh Open in February, reaching the semi-finals before a 6–3 loss to , his best result of the calendar year at that point. He followed this with a quarter-final appearance at the in April–May, defeating in the last 16 but losing 13–8 to in the last eight. At the 2025 Shanghai Masters in July, Brecel progressed to the last 16, though specific opponent details underscored his ongoing efforts to rebuild momentum. The 2025–26 season, however, has been marred by health challenges, with Brecel withdrawing from multiple events including the Saudi Arabia Masters in August and the Scottish Open qualifiers in October due to a mystery illness causing chronic fatigue. By November 2025, his prize money for the season stood at just £16,800, raising further concerns about his ranking status and tour retention. Brecel has publicly addressed these issues, stating he is adjusting his training regimen to manage the condition while expressing optimism about returning to competitive form.

Playing style and technique

Break-building approach

Luca Brecel is renowned for his aggressive and flamboyant break-building approach, characterized by fearless attempts at long pots and high-risk shots that prioritize fluency over caution. His style often involves powering through difficult positions with powerful cue action, making him one of the most entertaining players on the tour. This offensive mindset is exemplified by his success in compiling high breaks, including his first official maximum 147 in the 2018 against . By the end of the 2024-2025 season, Brecel had amassed 226 career century breaks, with a highest of 147, showcasing his proficiency in constructing substantial scores under pressure. Nicknamed the "Belgian Bullet" for his rapid pace and explosive shot-making, Brecel's breaks emphasize entertainment value, often featuring quick-fire sequences that captivate audiences. His approach draws comparisons to flair players like in football, blending artistry with effectiveness to produce visually striking . Following his 2023 World Championship victory, Brecel experienced a period of inconsistency in form, but by 2025, he demonstrated a refined break-building technique, aided by improved fitness through running and , which enhanced his stamina for sustained aggressive play. This evolution was evident in his 2025 run, where he compiled five centuries against Ryan Day, signaling a return to polished offensive prowess.

Tactical and positional play

Brecel exhibits strong cue ball control, enabling precise positional setups in challenging scenarios such as frame-ball situations where the cue ball must be maneuvered around clustered reds or colors. His in controlling the cue ball's path—often described as masterful touch—allows him to open up the table effectively after pots, maintaining momentum in breaks and transitions to exchanges. Despite these strengths, Brecel has drawn for intermittent lapses in concentration that lead to unforced errors, including over-hit shots and positional inaccuracies under . These moments, such as decelerating on crucial pots or missing straightforward safeties, can disrupt his and gift opportunities to opponents, highlighting areas where mental focus remains a work in progress. In the , Brecel demonstrated tactical adaptability by incorporating more safety play to provoke mistakes from rivals, particularly during his semi-final comeback against . Trailing significantly, he engaged in prolonged safety battles to exploit Si's relative inexperience in defensive exchanges, forcing errors that allowed Brecel to reel off 11 consecutive frames and secure victory. This shift underscored his growing match temperament, blending aggression with calculated restraint to handle high-stakes pressure. Brecel's overall preference leans toward attacking play rather than extended safety duels, aligning with his flamboyant style that prioritizes potting flair over defensive grinding.

Career statistics

Performance and rankings timeline

The performance and rankings timeline for Luca Brecel provides a year-by-year overview of his progress in snooker from his professional debut in 2011 through the 2024–25 season (ending May 2025). This includes results in the Triple Crown events—World Snooker Championship, UK Championship, and Masters—along with end-of-season world rankings, the highest break recorded in each season, and the number of century breaks compiled. Results are abbreviated as follows: DNQ (did not qualify), LQ (lost in qualifying), L128/L96/L80/L64/L48 (lost in rounds 1–5 of main draw or equivalent qualifying stage), L32/L16 (last 32/last 16), QF (quarter-final), SF (semi-final), F (runner-up), W (winner). Performances are highlighted in bold for reaching the last 16 or better to indicate significant achievements.
SeasonWorld ChampionshipUK ChampionshipMastersEnd-of-Season RankingHighest BreakCenturies
2011DNQL96DNQNR1011
2012L32QFDNQNR1165
2013L96L64DNQ7413617
2014L64L64DNQ371266
2015L80L16DNQ3314011
2016L80QFDNQ2014015
2017L32L32DNQ161369
2018L32L32L161314716
2019L32L128QF2114027
2020L80L64DNQ2713829
2021L48FDNQ5413312
2022L32L16DNQ3113323
2023WL16L16614125
2024L32L32L161413418
2025QFL32QF3912812
Brecel's timeline reflects his rapid rise to the elite level, peaking with the world number six ranking in 2023 following his victory, before a form dip led to a lower position by 2025; his career total stands at 226 centuries as of the end of the 2024–25 season, with a achieved in 2018.

Career finals

Brecel has reached seven ranking finals in his professional career, winning four of them. His first final came at the 2016 German Masters, where he lost 5–9 to Martin Gould on 7 February 2016, earning £26,250 as runner-up. He claimed his maiden ranking title at the 2017 China Championship, defeating Shaun Murphy 10–5 on 22 August 2017 for £150,000. In the 2021 UK Championship, Brecel became the first player from mainland Europe to reach a Triple Crown final but lost 5–10 to Zhao Xintong on 5 December 2021, receiving £80,000. Later that season, he won the Scottish Open 9–5 against John Higgins on 12 December 2021, securing £70,000 and his second ranking crown. Brecel lifted his third ranking trophy at the 2022 Championship League, topping the final group after a 3–1 win over Lu Ning on 29 July 2022 for £33,000. At the 2022 English Open, he fell 4–9 to Mark Selby on 18 December 2022, taking £35,000 as runner-up. His crowning achievement was the 2023 World Snooker Championship, where he overcame Mark Selby 18–15 on 1 May 2023 to win £500,000 and become the first continental European world champion.
TournamentSeasonDateOpponentResultPrize Money
German Masters2015–167 February 2016Martin Gould (ENG)L 5–9£26,250
China Championship2017–1822 August 2017Shaun Murphy (ENG)W 10–5£150,000
UK Championship2021–225 December 2021Zhao Xintong (CHN)L 5–10£80,000
Scottish Open2021–2212 December 2021John Higgins (SCO)W 9–5£70,000
Championship League2022–2329 July 2022Lu Ning (CHN)W 3–1£33,000
English Open2022–2318 December 2022Mark Selby (ENG)L 4–9£35,000
World Snooker Championship2022–231 May 2023Mark Selby (ENG)W 18–15£500,000
Brecel has appeared in five non-ranking finals, securing one victory. His debut non-ranking final was the 2016 , a one-frame event where he lost 36–50 to on 14 February 2016, earning £16,000. He triumphed at the 2020 (June groups), topping the final group with a decisive century against on 12 June 2020 for £30,000. In the 2023 , Brecel was defeated 9–11 by on 17 September 2023, collecting £105,000. He reached the 2024 World Masters of Snooker final but lost 2–5 to O'Sullivan on 6 March 2024, receiving £125,000. Most recently, in the 2024 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, Brecel fell 1–5 to Mark Allen on 20 December 2024, earning £125,000.
TournamentSeasonDateOpponentResultPrize Money
2015–1614 February 2016 (FIN)L 36–50£16,000
(June)2019–2012 June 2020 (ENG)W (group winner)£30,000
Shanghai Masters2023–2417 September 2023 (ENG)L 9–11£105,000
World Masters of Snooker2023–246 March 2024 (ENG)L 2–5£125,000
Riyadh Season Snooker Championship2024–2520 December 2024Mark Allen (NIR)L 1–5£125,000
Brecel has a strong record in pro-am events, reaching six finals with five victories, including wins at the 2018 Golden Q Cup against , the 2020 3 Kings Open, and the 2021 Classic. He also partnered with fellow Belgian Julien Leclercq to win the 2023 World Cup of , defeating 4–2 in the final on 9 2023 for a team prize of £200,000. In 2024, he partnered with to win the World Mixed Doubles, defeating the team 4–2 in the final on 2 March 2024.

References

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