Luca Brecel Reveals Health Struggles Affecting His Snooker Career
Belgian snooker player Luca Brecel announced that “health problems” have prevented him from participating in tournaments for several months, reports 24brussels.
Brecel last competed in a tournament match in late April, where he lost to Judd Trump during the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. Since that defeat, the 30-year-old has not attended qualifiers for several significant events, including the Wuhan Open and the British Open.
Recently, he also withdrew from the Saudi Arabia Masters, where he was slated to play against England’s Sanderson Lam in the third round. Until an Instagram story posted on Sunday night, Brecel had not offered any explanation for his absence.
“My team and myself are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before,” he expressed. “It’s been really frustrating not being able to travel and participate in tournaments! But… I always choose to be optimistic! Tough times often lead to something great!”
“My team and myself are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before.”
The specifics of his health concerns remain undisclosed, and no timeline for his return has been provided. His earliest chance to return to competitive snooker would be in September, coinciding with the qualifiers for the Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open.
In a notable career highlight, Brecel became the youngest player ever to qualify for the World Championships in 2012 at just 17 years old. Earlier this year, he achieved a historic feat by becoming the first player from mainland Europe to secure the world title. However, since then, his form has waned, resulting in a drop from number two to 39th in the World Snooker Tour rankings.
