Luca Brecel is a man in a hurry. The Belgian Bullet wowed the Crucible last year with his fast and furious style of play. And away from the baize, he is just as quick, wasting no time in burning through his £500,000 prize money — all of it going on flash cars.
Just days after his shock World Championship triumph last May, Brecel spent half of his winnings on a Ferrari 488. A few months later, he added a BMW M4 and a Range Rover Sport to his growing garage, and then he bought girlfriend Laura a Porsche Taycan for her birthday.
‘I think I deserved it,’ says Brecel with a smile. ‘I got a Ferrari and a couple of others just to enjoy myself sometimes. It was just a bit of fun — and why not?’
But fun was not the only reason behind Brecel’s spending spree.
After a poor start to the new season, the 29-year-old sensed he had lost his hunger for success having already landed snooker’s biggest prize. Brecel thought splashing all of his cash on cars would drive him to win matches so he could replenish his bank balance.
Luca Brecel spent a chunk of last year’s £500,000 prize on a Ferrari 488 (above)
Brecel romped to the Snooker World Championship victory in Sheffield last year
The Belgian, pictured with his other half Laura Vanoverberghe, has been living the high life
‘I needed to change something to feel that inspiration again,’ admits the world No 4 ahead of his Crucible title defence against David Gilbert today. ‘The reason why I haven’t played so well this season is because I didn’t want to go to tournaments.
‘It was just my mental state. It wasn’t a lack of practice or anything else — it was just no hunger. That’s how I felt in the beginning, but it’s totally different now. I feel like I have got that hunger back now. And it’s even more than before.
‘The bad season maybe helps me for the next five to 10 seasons because I never want to be the same again. I am in a much better place now than I used to be.
‘Everything I do in my life now it is to try and become a better player, to become more in control on the table. I am really hungry — literally as well because I’m on a diet!’
Brecel says he has lost more than a stone since he began his diet after ‘eating too much’ following his incredible Crucible triumph 12 months ago.
‘I feel much better,’ he admits. ‘Less eating, counting my calories, a bit of exercise here and there. I used to be into my fitness. A couple of years ago, I was running long distances. I am trying to get back to that.
‘It has really helped me. I think it was the change I needed to play well again and I feel like now the sky’s the limit. I’m really close to the level I was at last year.’
Brecel is pictured prior to this year’s World Snooker Championship next to Ronnie O’Sullivan
Brecel was incredible in last year’s tournament and said he did not even practise
Brecel says he has his hunger back now and is more ravenous than ever before
If that is correct, Brecel’s rivals better watch out, for his level was outstanding on his way to becoming the first world champion from mainland Europe. Amazingly, he had not won a single match in his five previous Crucible visits. He also famously claimed he did not practise before last year’s tournament, spending his time ‘partying, playing FIFA and playing darts’.
After knocking out three-time champion Mark Williams in the second round, Brecel even went back to Belgium and stayed out drinking until 6am, getting as ‘drunk as hell’.
But in his quarter-final against defending seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan, he reeled off seven straight frames in the final session to come from 10-6 down to win 13-10.
‘Beating Ronnie 7-0 in a session, that was a special moment,’ reflects Brecel.
‘To see Stephen Hendry in the commentary box giving a standing ovation when I walked out was fantastic as well. The whole tournament was like a dream.’
Brecel went on to complete the Crucible’s greatest comeback, winning 11 frames in a row in a 17-15 semi-final victory over Si Jiahui, having trailed 14-5.
Brecel admits the nerves kicked in for him in last year’s final but he came through
In the final, he beat four-time champion Mark Selby 18-15, hitting a 112 break to win, having seen a 16-10 lead cut to 16-15.
‘Being 16-10 in front, I collapsed a little bit and I started panicking because it was so close and I felt like if I lost I was going to feel sick for a couple of years,’ recalls Brecel. ‘It was a golden chance to win it and luckily I did. I was just so relieved. In the last frame, I was really nervous, but I felt in control. Every shot felt like a tournament win. It was crazy.’
Now Brecel wants that feeling again. No first-time Crucible champion has ever retained their title.
Asked if he can break the Crucible curse, he adds: ‘I haven’t had the best season but I feel like I could play well this year as well. I am really looking forward to it. I’d love to win it again.’
He would probably love another couple of supercars, too.
WATCHING BRIEF – World Snooker Championship 2024. Starts: 10am, the Crucible, Sheffield. TV: LIVE on BBC and Eurosport. Final: May 5-6.
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