Luca Brecel facts for kids
Brecel in 2022
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| Born | 8 March 1995 Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  Belgium |
| Professional | 2011–present |
| Highest ranking | 2 (May 2023) |
| Current ranking | 15 (as of 8 May 2018) |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 4 |
| World Champion | 2023 |
Luca Brecel (born March 8, 1995) is a professional snooker player from Belgium. He has won four major snooker tournaments. Luca is also a former World Snooker Champion, winning the title in 2023. In that final, he beat Mark Selby, who had won the championship four times before.
In one amazing semi-final match, Luca was far behind (5-14) against Si Jiahui but made an incredible comeback to win 17-15. This was the biggest comeback ever in the history of the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre. Luca was the first player from mainland Europe to win a major snooker tournament when he won the 2017 China Championship. He also won the 2021 Scottish Open and the 2022 Championship League. He is the youngest player to ever play in the World Snooker Championship, making his debut in 2012 when he was just 17 years old. He is also the first player from mainland Europe to win the World Championship.
Luca won the European Under-19 title in 2009 when he was only 14. He became a professional player in 2011. By 2017, he was among the top 16 players in the world. He reached his first major final at the 2021 UK Championship but lost to Zhao Xintong. Just a week later, he won the 2021 Scottish Open by beating John Higgins 9-5.
Contents
Luca's Early Life and Amateur Snooker Career
Luca Brecel was born in 1995 in Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium. He started playing snooker when he was nine years old. He had played pool with his dad during a family holiday and really enjoyed it. Luca began getting coaching from Danny Moermans. Later, his family moved to a house where they could have their own snooker table. He was even homeschooled so he could spend more time practicing snooker. He scored his first "century break" (scoring 100 points or more in one turn) when he was 12.
In April 2009, Luca became the youngest European Under-19 champion at 14. He won the final 6-5 against Michael Wasley. This win would have allowed him to join the professional snooker tour, but he was too young as the minimum age was 16. In May 2009, Luca played in the World Series of Snooker in Portugal. He beat famous players like Jimmy White and Ken Doherty. He then lost to Graeme Dott in the quarter-finals. In August 2009, he also beat Joe Perry, who was ranked 12th in the world at the time.
In January 2010, Luca beat seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry in a friendly game. In May of that year, Luca became the Belgian senior champion. He also had the highest break of the tournament with 136 points. In October 2010, Luca was one of eight players in a new tournament called Power Snooker. He played against top players like Ronnie O'Sullivan but lost in the first round. In December 2010, Luca was named "Belgian Sportsman of the Year" in the "Promising Talent" category.
Luca's Professional Snooker Journey
Starting as a Professional (2011–2015)
In May 2011, Luca Brecel was given a special entry to the professional snooker tour. He officially became a professional player the next month, winning his first match against Anthony Hamilton. By August, he was ranked 87th in the world. In January 2012, Luca made his first "maximum break" (scoring 147 points, the highest possible in one turn) in an amateur tournament.
At 17 years old, Luca became the youngest player ever to qualify for the World Snooker Championship in 2012. He broke the record set by Stephen Hendry in 1986. Even though he qualified, he lost his first match at the championship.
Luca finished the season outside the top 64 players, who usually keep their spots on the tour. However, he was given a special two-year entry because World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn felt it would be a "loss to the sport" if Luca wasn't playing. Luca also won the "Rookie of the Year Award."
In July 2012, Luca made his second maximum break in an amateur tournament. He reached the third qualifying round for the 2012 Wuxi Classic but lost. At the first Players Tour Championship event of 2012, he reached the last 16.
Luca qualified for the 2012 UK Championship by winning four qualifying matches. He won his first match in a major tournament by beating Ricky Walden 6-5. He then beat Mark King 6-4. He reached the quarter-finals but lost to Shaun Murphy 6-5 in a very close match. After this success, Luca didn't win any more qualifying matches that season. He ended his second year as a professional ranked 72nd in the world.
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In the 2013–14 season, Luca lost in the qualifying rounds for the first five major tournaments. However, he got to play in the 2013 UK Championship because all 128 players on the tour were included. He won his first match but then lost to Stephen Maguire.
Luca qualified for the 2014 German Masters but lost in the first round. His best result that year was at the China Open, where he reached the third round. He then beat Dominic Dale 5-1 but lost to Graeme Dott in the next round. He finished the year ranked 63rd in the world, which was his highest ranking at that time.
In the 2014–15 season, Luca lost in the first round of the 2014 Australian Goldfields Open and the second round of the 2014 UK Championship. At the 2015 Welsh Open, he had a great run. He beat world number 15 Robert Milkins 4-0 and made a break of 140, which was the highest of his professional career and the highest in the tournament. He then beat the reigning world champion and world number one Mark Selby 4-3 to reach the quarter-finals. He continued to win, reaching his first semi-final in a major tournament, but he lost to John Higgins 4-6. Luca moved up 19 places in the rankings to finish 44th in the world.
First Major Tournament Win (2015–2019)
After some early losses in the 2015–16 season, Luca reached the fourth round of the 2015 UK Championship. He then reached his first quarter-final of the season at the German Masters. He came back from being 2-4 down to beat Mark Joyce 5-4, finishing with a 102 break. Luca then won his semi-final match against Kyren Wilson to become only the second European player from outside the UK and Ireland to play in a major tournament final. In the final, Luca lost 9-5 to Martin Gould. He also lost in the final of the 2016 Snooker Shoot-Out to Robin Hull. Luca finished the year ranked 30th in the world, which was his highest ranking at that time.
In the 2016–17 season, Luca didn't get past the first round in many tournaments. However, at the 2016 UK Championship, he had a strong performance, reaching the quarter-finals where he lost to Shaun Murphy. Luca qualified for the World Championship for the second time in 2017 World Snooker Championship. He started strong, leading Marco Fu 7-1, but eventually lost 9-10.
Luca won his first major title, the 2017 China Championship, in August 2017. He beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-4 in the quarter-finals after being 1-4 down. He then beat Li Hang 6-5 in the semi-finals and Shaun Murphy 10-5 in the final. This victory moved him into the top 16 world rankings for the first time. A month later, at the World Open, Luca reached the semi-finals, confirming his place as a top player.
Because he won the China Championship, Luca was invited to the 2017 Champion of Champions tournament. He beat Judd Trump 4-0 and then the reigning world champion Mark Selby 6-4. In the semi-final, he lost to Shaun Murphy.
At the 2018 Northern Ireland Open, Luca lost in the last 16 to the eventual winner, Judd Trump. He also reached the semi-finals of the non-ranking 2018 Six-red World Championship and the 2019 China Open. At the 2019 World Snooker Championship, he lost 10-9 in the first round to Gary Wilson. The final frame of that match lasted a record 79 minutes! He finished this season ranked 19th in the world.
Winning More Titles and Becoming World Champion (2020–Present)
In the 2019-20 snooker season, Luca's best result was reaching the last 16 of the Welsh Open. During this season, his ranking dropped. In June 2020, he won the non-ranking Championship League.
Luca reached the quarter-finals of the 2021 English Open, where he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He then 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 (a group of three of the most important snooker tournaments). On his way to the final, Luca beat Stephen Maguire and Kyren Wilson. In the final, he lost to Zhao Xintong. As the runner-up, Luca's world ranking jumped from 40th to 18th. The very next week, he won his second major tournament, the Scottish Open, by beating John Higgins 9-5 in the final.
During the 2022-23 snooker season, Luca won his third major title at the 2022 Championship League. He also reached the final of the 2022 English Open.
At the 2023 World Snooker Championship, Luca finally won his first match at the tournament after five previous attempts. In the last-sixteen round, he defeated three-time winner Mark Williams. In his quarter-final match, he faced the defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Luca was behind 6-10 after two sessions, but he won all seven frames in the final session to win the match 13-10. O'Sullivan even said he hoped Luca would go on to win the tournament. In the semi-final, Luca was far behind Si Jiahui (5-14) early in the third session. But then, Luca won eleven frames in a row to take a 16-14 lead and eventually won the match 17-15. In the final, he played against four-time champion Mark Selby. Luca took an early lead (6-2) but Selby closed the gap to 9-8. Luca then won six of eight frames in the third session to lead 15-10. In the final session, Selby got closer (16-15), but Luca won the next two frames to win the match 18-15. By winning the World Championship, Luca Brecel became the first player from continental Europe to do so. He was also the first player not from Australia, Canada, Ireland, or the United Kingdom to win the championship.
Luca did not have as much success in the 2023–2024 season. His best result in a major tournament was reaching the quarter-finals in the Welsh Open. He did better in two non-ranking tournaments, reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters and the first-ever World Masters of Snooker in Riyadh. He lost to O'Sullivan in both finals. However, he lost in the first round at the Crucible against David Gilbert, losing four frames in a row from a 9-6 lead to lose the match 10-9.
Luca's Snooker Style
Luca Brecel's way of playing snooker is often described as "very aggressive" and "all-out attacking." His bold and exciting style has earned him praise and comparisons to famous players like Alex Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Performance and Rankings Timeline
| 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 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wuhan Open | Tournament Not Held | WD | LQ | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English Open | Tournament Not Held | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | QF | F | 3R | 2R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | LQ | LQ | 3R | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xi'an Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | WD | 4R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 3R | A | 2R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Championship | Not Held | LQ | LQ | LQ | 1R | 1R | 2R | LQ | 2R | Not Held | 1R | LQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | A | A | LQ | QF | 2R | 2R | 4R | QF | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | F | 2R | 2R | 1R | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot Out | Non-Ranking Event | 3R | 3R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Open | Not Held | MR | Not Held | 1R | A | 3R | 1R | 2R | W | LQ | 2R | QF | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| German Masters | NH | WR | LQ | LQ | 1R | LQ | F | LQ | LQ | LQ | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | LQ | 2R | ||||||||||||||||||
| World Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | DNQ | 1R | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 2R | 2R | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Players Championship | NH | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 1R | 1R | DNQ | 1R | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 1R | QF | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | A | A | LQ | LQ | 1R | SF | 4R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 4R | 1R | LQ | 3R | QF | SF | ||||||||||||||||||
| World Open | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champion of Champions | Tournament Not Held | A | A | A | A | SF | 1R | A | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Riyadh Season Championship | Tournament Not Held | F | F | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 1R | QF | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 1R | 1R | QF | ||||||||||||||||||
| Championship League | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | RR | WD | RR | W | A | A | WD | A | A | |||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wuxi Classic | 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 | 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 | 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. | |||
Career Finals: Luca's Big Matches
Ranking Finals: 7 (4 Wins)
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Non-ranking Finals: 5 (1 Win)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 2016 | Snooker Shoot Out |  Robin Hull (FIN) |
0–1 | |
| Winner | 1. | 2020 | Championship League (June) |  Ben Woollaston (ENG) |
Round-Robin | |
| Runner-up | 2. | 2023 | Shanghai Masters | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) |
9–11 | |
| Runner-up | 3. | 2024 | World Masters of Snooker | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) |
2–5 | |
| Runner-up | 4. | 2024 | Riyadh Season Championship |  Mark Allen (NIR) |
1–5 |
Pro-am Finals: 7 (6 Wins)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2010 | Brugge Open Plate | Barry Pinches (ENG) |
3–2 | |
| Winner | 2. | 2013 | Dutch Open | Bjorn Haneveer (BEL) |
5–3 | |
| Winner | 3. | 2014 | 3 Kings Open |  Tony Drago (MLT) |
5–4 | |
| Runner-up | 1. | 2015 | 3 Kings Open | Tony Drago (MLT) |
4–5 | |
| Winner | 4. | 2018 | Golden Q Cup |  Michael Georgiou (CYP) |
5–1 | |
| Winner | 5. | 2020 | 3 Kings Open (2) |  Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI) |
5–2 | |
| Winner | 6. | 2020 | Italian Snooker Open | Sybren Sokolowski (BEL) |
4–1 |
Team Finals (1 Win)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team/partner | Opponent in the final | Score | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2024 | World Mixed Doubles | Reanne Evans (ENG) |
Mark Selby (ENG) Rebecca Kenna (ENG) |
4–2 |
Amateur Titles
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2007 | Belgian Under-16 Championship | Jurian Heusdens (BEL) |
4–2 | |
| Winner | 2. | 2008 | Belgian Under-16 Championship | Glenn Dossche (BEL) |
4–0 | |
| Winner | 3. | 2009 | Belgian Under-16 Championship | Kenny Saynave (BEL) |
4–0 | |
| Winner | 4. | 2010 | Belgian Under-16 Championship | Glenn Dossche (BEL) |
4–0 | |
| Winner | 5. | 2009 | European Under-19 Championship | Michael Wasley (ENG) |
6–5 | |
| Winner | 6. | 2010 | Belgian Amateur Championship | Bjorn Haneveer (BEL) |
7–4 | |
| Winner | 7. | 2010 | European Amateur Championship |  Roy Stolk (NED) |
7–4 | |
| Winner | 8. | 2013 | Belgian Amateur Championship | Yvan Van Velthoven (BEL) |
7–1 | |
| Winner | 9. | 2014 | Belgian Amateur Championship | Yvan Van Velthoven (BEL) |
7–5 |
See also
In Spanish: Luca Brecel para niños
