‘The Belgian Bullet’, Luca Brecel: Ranking titles, prize money, age, 147s, records

We profile the 2023 World Snooker Champion and the first victor from continental Europe, Luca Brecel...
 

Luca Brecel ranking titles

Brecel has won four ranking titles to date, including his World Championship triumph in 2023.

He claimed his first in the China Championship in 2017 by defeating Shaun Murphy in the final and had to wait another four years for his second triumph, beating John Higgins to seal the 2021 Scottish Open.

The Belgian Bullet added another ranking title to his collection in 2022 with victory in the Champions League.

He narrowly missed out on another title after suffering defeat to Mark Selby in the English Open final but Brecel exacted his revenge at the World Snooker Championship, toppling Selby 18-15 to seal a fairytale Crucible success.

Luca Brecel’s route to 2023 World Snooker Championship title

Taken to a decider in his opening match against Ricky Walden, Brecel made an 84 break to seal his first Crucible victor.

Mark Williams awaited him in the second round and Brecel impressed again, prevailing 13-11 against the three-time world champion.

Next was his toughest challenge yet, Ronnie O'Sullivan. The Rocket was heavy favourite going into the contest but Brecel was in exceptional form, overcoming a four-frame deficit by claiming seven consecutive frames and winning the match 13-10; it was the first time O'Sullivan had failed to win a frame in a session since 2004.

In the semi-finals against Si Jiahui, Brecel trailed by nine frames before producing one of the greatest Crucible comebacks of all time to win 17-15.

His win set up a meeting with four-time world champion Mark Selby in the final and despite the Jester from Leicester becoming the first player to achieve a maximum break in a World Championship final, Brecel came out on top.

Luca Brecel World Snooker Championship odds

Brecel, who is the number four seed this year, is priced at 16/1 to retain his crown at bet365.

How many World Snooker Championships has Luca Brecel won?

The Belgian Bullet won his maiden world title in 2023, having never advanced beyond the first round in all of his previous appearances.
 

Luca Brecel World Snooker Championship appearances

Brecel made his World Championship debut in 2012 but had to wait another five years before his next match at the Crucible.

He suffered first round defeats in all five of his World Championship appearances before his sensational triumph in his sixth outing last year.
 

Luca Brecel age

Brecel is 29 years old and will turn 30 on 8th March 2025.
 

Where is Luca Brecel from?

Brecel hails from the city of Dilsen-Stokkem, in the Belgian province of Limburg.
 

Luca Brecel centuries

As of 19th March 2024, Luca Brecel has made a total of 214 century breaks in his professional career.
 

Luca Brecel 147 breaks

Brecel has only chalked up one maximum break in his professional career and that was in 2018 against John Higgins in the Championship League.