Snooker sensation Luca Brecel had to hold back tears of joy Monday night after winning his first and completely unexpected world title. The Belgian crowned the legendary tournament in Sheffield and is the first world champion to come from mainland Europe.
“I’m very nervous because I want to win for Belgium and Europe,” said an emotional Brecel Sporza. “Now it’s happened. I can’t wait to see what happens. It’s going to explode in Belgium.”
Two weeks ago, no one would have thought Brecel would even have a shot at taking the world title. That changed when he caused a sensation by defeating seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
In the final that ended on Monday night, four-time world champion Mark Selby also had to believe it. But it took a while for Selby to give up on the Crucible Theatre. ‘The Jester From Leicester’ reduced the gap to 16-15 by winning five frames in a row. It turned out to be the last seizure, because Brecel finished his work afterward.
“Selby is a fighter. She is the worst opponent you can face in a final. At 17-15 minutes I knew I had a chance to finish,” said the world champion who secured the rare title. In the rich history of the World Cup, overall victory has only been achieved by snooker players from outside England three times previously.
‘No training, just partying’
This year’s series is very special, because it is the sixth time Brecel has participated in the World Cup. In the previous five participations, ‘The Belgian Bullet’ was able to go home after one match. Also this year, elimination in the first round lurks. He only beat Ricky Walden 10-9.
Brecel, who was the youngest World Cup entrant of all time in 2012 at the age of seventeen, knows only too well that he has gone through the eye of a needle against Walden. “Then everybody would say: ‘Luca lost his first fight again.’ That’s how small the difference is in snooker, nothing has changed in that regard.”
For now, Brecel is not involved in snooker at all. It fits perfectly with the way he approaches top sport. The World Cup sensation has made no secret of the fact that he prefers to hang out in the pub until the last hours than seriously prepare for games.
“I won’t be training again in the coming weeks and months,” laughed Brecel. “I’m just going to enjoy this world title. It’s been a crazy week: I’m not training, just partying. It shouldn’t be legal.”
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