Luca Brecel is a Belgian professional snooker player. A four-time ranking event winner, Brecel is the former World Snooker Champion, having won the 2023 event by defeating four-time champion Mark Selby 18–15 in the final. Brecel trailed Si Jiahui 5–14 in the semi-final, but eventually won 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.
Brecel at the 2022 European Masters
Luca Brecel at the 2014 German Masters
Brecel (right) playing Kyren Wilson at the 2016 German Masters.
Brecel at the 2022 European Masters
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in professional snooker. It is also the richest, with total prize money of £2,395,000 in 2023, including £500,000 for the winner. First held in 1927, it is now one of the three tournaments that make up snooker's Triple Crown Series. The reigning world champion is Kyren Wilson.
World Snooker Championship trophy during the 2007 event
The World Snooker Championship trophy in front of the Crucible Theatre
The two-table setup at the 2019 event