Luca Brecel is a Belgian world snooker champion who broke new ground in 2023 by becoming the first Crucible king from mainland Europe, adding multiple ranking titles and climbing as high as number two in the world rankings.
Luca Brecel – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 8 March 1995 |
| From: | Belgium |
| Turned professional: | 2011 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 2 |
| Ranking titles: | 4 |
| World Championship titles: | 1 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 1 |
| Masters appearances: | 5 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 1 |
Luca Brecel’s Snooker Career
Prior to turning professional in 2011, Luca Brecel was already making a big name for himself across Europe. The Belgian Bullet backed up his victory in the 2009 European Under-19 Championship at the age of 14 with a further standout triumph at the 2010 European Amateur Championship.
Expectations for the teenager were high, and when he became the youngest ever World Snooker Championship qualifier in 2012 at the age of 17 the sky appeared to be the limit. However, despite experiencing a steady upward trajectory in the world rankings list, Brecel was unable to establish himself as a top contender.
In 2016 he embarked on a run to the final of the German Masters, then a year later he seemingly made his long-awaited breakthrough. Brecel captured a maiden ranking title with victory in the lucrative China Championship in Guangzhou.
It helped him break into the top 16 in the world rankings list for the first time and he duly competed in prestigious invitational events such as the Champion of Champions and the Masters. Consistency was hard to maintain, though, and after slipping down the rankings list an unexpected resurgence occurred late in 2021.
Brecel’s appearance in the final of the UK Championship was quickly followed by a second ranking success at the Scottish Open, where he beat John Higgins in the final. The confidence gained from these performances helped Brecel to feature more prominently at the business end of competitions during the 2022/23 campaign.
This newly acquired level of form culminated in a wonderful run to glory at the 2023 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. By beating Mark Selby in the final, he became the first Crucible king from mainland Europe and rose to a career-high ranking of number two in the world.
Luca Brecel’s Ranking Titles
Luca Brecel has won 4 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 2017 | China Championship |
| 2021 | Scottish Open |
| 2022 | Championship League |
| 2023 | World Snooker Championship |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- Championship League (2020)
- World Mixed Doubles (2024)
Luca Brecel and the Triple Crown
Luca Brecel has won one Triple Crown title during his professional career.
- World Championship: 1 title (2023)
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 0 titles
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Luca Brecel: ★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST