Latest news with #LucaBrecel
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
World snooker champion 'really serious' about pursuing new sport in shock admission
World snooker champion 'really serious' about pursuing new sport in shock admission Belgium's Luca Brecel has confirmed he is "really serious" about his ambition to compete in an Ironman triathlon, despite scepticism from some quarters Luca Brecel of Belgium (Image: Getty Images ) Former world snooker champion Luca Brecel has reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing his Ironman ambitions, despite sceptics questioning his decision. The 30-year-old, who recently reached the quarter-finals at the Crucible before being defeated by Judd Trump, has been diligently training for the triathlon challenge with the goal of competing in 2028. Since claiming the sport's top prize two years ago, Brecel has sparked debate with his approach to snooker. His prioritisation of Ironman training has led to a decline in his world rankings. He has even hosted his own training camps in Majorca and travelled to and from the Spanish island during last year's Northern Ireland Open. After his loss to Trump in Sheffield, he confessed to struggling with focus during lengthy matches and expressed his dislike for extended stays in England. Undeterred, Brecel remains determined to tackle the demanding event, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle ride, and a 26.2-mile run. Article continues below During last year's Northern Ireland Open, where he balanced his training schedule with matches before losing to China's Pang Junxu, he addressed his doubters and pledged to seek professional guidance for his fitness regimen. "It is a really big ambition of mine - some people think it's a joke, but I'm really serious about it," he said. "That's the main focus, and Majorca is a good environment to train, a lot of the pro cyclists go out there.", reports the Express. Brecel said: "I'm going to focus on cycling and running for the next two years, and then I'll pick up swimming. "A Belgian, Frederik van Lierde, won the Ironman World Championship in 2013, so I might ask him to coach me a little bit. That's on the cards." He has also dismissed claims he is using his sport to justify his repeated trips to Majorca claiming it isn't a sunshine vacation. Article continues below "For me being in Majorca is not really about the sunshine, it's about the temperature and it's a good environment to train," he said. "It's not about lying on the beach, I haven't seen the beach yet, it's all about training." The former world number two has improved since his results dropped earlier this season.
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'I banked £500,000 for winning World Snooker Championship – then I lost millionaire status'
Luca Brecel became a millionaire overnight when he won the World Snooker Championship in 2023, but his millionaire status did not last too long after he splashed the cash Zhao Xintong must take a valuable lesson from Luca Brecel before he decides what to spend his World Snooker Championship winnings on. The Chinese sensation will still be celebrating his victory after overcoming Mark Williams 18-12. Before he decides on what he wants to spend his £500,000 prize on, he should remember Brecel's intense celebrations. After becoming a millionaire with his win at the Crucible, Brecel quickly saw his seven-figure fortunes dwindle. Back in 2023, Brecel stunned fans by taking down Mark Selby 18-15 to win his maiden world championship. The Belgian made history as the first player from continental Europe to claim the title. He showed potential for another run to the final, but Judd Trump halted him at the quarter-finals this year. After winning the championship in 2023, the 'Belgian Bullet' decided to splash the cash on luxury cars, resulting in his millionaire status being no more. In a candid confession prior to defending his title last year, he said: "I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire." Reportedly, Brecel splurged over £250,000 on a swift Ferrari 488, dropped £80,000 for a Range Rover, and acquired a Porsche Taycan GT for his girlfriend Laura Vanoverberghe, which was rumoured to cost about £111,000. Yet, his fleet of cars do not often see the road. In an interview with The Sun, Brecel admitted: "I got a couple of cars with my winnings. I got a Ferrari and a couple of others. Just to enjoy myself. I don't really drive it that often. I'm not really home that much." Brecel pocketed a cool £50,000 for making it to the last eight at the Crucible this year – a tidy sum, but just a slice of his 2023 earnings. The Belgian ace was all in to cause a stir at this year's showdown, after an inconsistent last two years. He certainly turned heads when he rocked up at the Crucible in a swanky private jet, even throwing out an invite on social media for other people to hitch a ride. His lavish lifestyle has raised eyebrows before, with snooker icon Stephen Hendry criticising the player's focus. The seven-time world champion said: "I honestly don't know what he's (Brecel) doing with his career. "I haven't got a clue. I see him a lot on Instagram, he's riding his bike all over the place, he's going out to dinners with his girlfriend, he seems to be having a lovely time." While his spending is lavish, Brecel insists his life is relatively low maintenance. He said: "To be honest, I live quite a simple life, apart from the cars maybe. "I just love being at home when I have the chance to be at home. Walk the dog, watch a bit of television, play a few games. A pretty basic life, to be honest. It may not look like that, but it is."
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
World Snooker Championship winner blew millionaire status despite £500,000 payday
World Snooker Championship winner blew millionaire status despite £500,000 payday Luca Brecel became one of the most surprising World Snooker Championship winners of all time and was a millionaire, but spent his money on fast cars Luca Brecel admitted he lost his millionaire status quickly after winning the 2023 World Championship (Image: VCG via Getty Images ) As Zhao Xintong celebrates his World Snooker Championship final victory over Mark Williams, he will do well to learn lessons from Luca Brecel's celebrations. The latter became a millionaire when he won the World Snooker Championship, but spent his seven-figure status away just as quickly. In 2023, Brecel shocked the sporting world by beating Mark Selby 18-15 at the Crucible to win his first world championship. The Belgian became the first ever player from continental Europe to become a world champion. Brecel looked to be threatening another run to the final this year, but he was stopped by Judd Trump in the quarter-finals. When Brecel emerged from the Crucible victorious two years ago, he left with a hefty £500,000 prize. However, the Belgian Bullet chose to enjoy his winnings while he could and splashed out on three stunning cars. By the end of his shopping spree, which was reportedly worth around £440,000, he found that his status as a millionaire was over. Last year, before his World Snooker Championship defence, he admitted: "I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire." It's understood that he spent more than £250,000 on a high-speed Ferrari 488, £80,000 on a Range Rover, and a Porsche Taycan GT believed to be worth around £111,000 for his girlfriend, Laura Vanoverberghe. The humorous thing about his purchases is that he is rarely behind the wheel. In a past interview with the Sun, he admitted: "I got a couple of cars with my winnings. I got a Ferrari and a couple of others. Just to enjoy myself. I don't really drive it that often. I'm not really home that much." Article continues below Brecel bought his Ferrari soon after winning the 2023 World Snooker Championship (Image: Photo by JONAS ROOSENS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images ) Brecel would have pocketed around £50,000 for reaching the last eight at the Crucible this year - a hefty prize but only 10 per cent of his winnings from 2023. The Belgian was determined to make a splash at the competition this year, after two years of inconsistent form. He immediately made headlines by arriving at the Crucible via an audacious private jet, which he offered to allow other people on social media to join him in. His spending has previously attracted the criticism of other snooker legends such as Stephen Hendry. Brecel reached the quarter-finals but was beaten by Judd Trump (Image: VCG via Getty Images ) Before the competition, the snooker great said: "I honestly don't know what he's (Brecel) doing with his career. I haven't got a clue. I see him a lot on Instagram, he's riding his bike all over the place, he's going out to dinners with his girlfriend, he seems to be having a lovely time." Brecel's laid-back and relaxed demeanour has often led to many people questioning his motivation and desire to win more major titles. However, he insists he is happy with a simple life. He added: "To be honest, I live quite a simple life, apart from the cars maybe. Article continues below "I just love being at home when I have the chance to be at home. Walk the dog, watch a bit of television, play a few games. A pretty basic life, to be honest. It may not look like that, but it is."
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
'This used to be a tough game' - Dennis Taylor staggered by snooker star making World Championship look easy
Luca Brecel is fast-becoming snooker's man for the major occasions. The Belgian Bullet has struggled for form since a shock World Championship win two years ago, but has looked back to his best this year at the Crucible - with a stunning comeback in the second session of his match against world No.1 Judd Trump leaving 1985 world champ Taylor staggered. Speaking about the mercurial brilliance of Brecel, who has been jetting in from his homeland for matches, Taylor said: "This used to be a tough game, but Luca Brecel is making it look so easy at the moment.. What entertainment this is. "In a matter of half an hour the Belgian Bullet has got himself all square with the world No.1." Glowing praise also came from 1997 world champion Ken Doherty, who said: "He's wonderful to watch. He's so entertaining and you can see the smiles on the faces in the crowd. "They are right beside him and watching him go round making the game look so easy. It's like an exhibition he's putting on. "He's a precocious talent and he's shown exactly what he can do. And exactly what he did when he won this championship. "He's done it with such aplomb and some of the shots he is playing are just incredible. You can almost here the crowd gasping. "When you consider the season that Luca has had and the season that Judd Trump has had you'd never have given him a hope. "He's such an inspirational player and he plays on his instincts. If his instincts are good that's why he can just roll off frame after frame after frame. "The fear factor against Judd Trump is not there and he's playing like there is no extra pressure." John Parrott added: "He seems to play with a freedom that most people found hard to do. I know he's been training for the iron man, so he's coming here fitter than he's probably ever been. "But the other thing he's not had a great season; he's had seven century breaks in the entire season coming into this. So this is probably the most snooker he's played in a long time. "He's probably playing himself into serious form. And he's fitter. That can only be a good thing going forward in this championship, because he looks absolutely razor sharp. "He's had five centuries already in this tournament. He's played right into form." Laidback Brecel meanwhile said pre-tournament that he wasn't fussed about winning a second world title, and just wanted to enjoy himself - whilst putting on a show for the fans. The 30-year-old told Midnite: "I just don't really think a lot about winning tournaments and stuff like that. I just like playing the game. I'm more of a Ronaldinho type of player in snooker. "It's all about just entertaining and fun and also having a nice life around it, that's more important to me. So yeah, no pressure. "I've not really thought about the possibility of winning a second world title. I'm not that interested in it. If it happens it happens, but if it doesn't, then it's all good."
Edinburgh Live
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Stephen Hendry's telling remarks about fellow snooker player 'despite his lifestyle'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Snooker icon Stephen Hendry has hailed Luca Brecel as a "genius with a snooker cue" lauding his skills despite Brecel's unorthodox approach to both play and life. Brecel, aged 30 and the reigning champion of the 2023 World Snooker Championship, is showcasing formidable form in this year's contest at the Crucible. He's already dispatched Ryan Day in the opening round and delivered a resounding 13-4 victory over Ding Junhui to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. The Belgian star, eyeing his second World Championship crown by the end of the next month, is gearing up for a clash against Judd Trump, the current World No. 1, on Tuesday. Their encounter will decide who progresses to the semi-finals to potentially face off against either John Higgins or Mark Williams. During the BBC's coverage of the event, alongside Seema Jaswal, Hendry didn't hold back in his praise for Brecel, remarking: "Luca Brecel, back to the Brecel that won the world title two years ago, three years ago. Incredible.", reports Wales Online. Jaswal chimed in, noting: "And approaching it the same way, taking flights here and there and then coming back." Hendry continued to reflect on Brecel's unique strategy, saying: "Approaching the game in a way that no other player has, and still winning. I mean, if someone had told you back in the day that there's going to be a player that comes on the scene later on and is going to approach it the way he does - and he's still going to win the Worlds by the way - you'd have said no chance." Hendry has been vocal about his views, stating: "Until I'd seen that person play, I'd have said, 'No, he's got no future in the game'. But when you see the way Luca Brecel can play, with his kind of preparation, he's just a unique talent. "He's just fabulous to watch. He's an absolute genius with a snooker cue, it's what he was put on this earth to do. He wants to do other things as well though, that the thing. But maybe if you took Luca and said, 'Right, you've got to practice six hours a day', he wouldn't be the same player. "He's just an inspirational player, and when he gets that inspiration, when he gets that buzz from snooker, you can't stop watching him. He's just brilliant." Snooker sensation Brecel is known not only for his bold and aggressive playing style but also for his unorthodox lifestyle choices off the table. The sports star made waves with his grand entry at the Crucible aboard a private jet. After defeating Day 10-7 on Wednesday, he opted to fly back to Belgium rather than remaining close to the tournament venue like most participants. His candid admission of extravagant spending has drawn even more attention. Fresh off his win at the 2023 World Championship, Brecel splurged on a Ferrari 488, a BMW M4, a Range Rover Sport, and presented a Porsche Taycan to his partner, Laura Vanoverberghe. Ruminating on his recent purchases, Brecel remarked: "I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire." Despite his choices away from the table, Brecel continues to impress on the green felt, and fans are eager to see how far he can go this year. However, he faces a formidable opponent in Trump, who has been showing remarkable form. The 35 year old effortlessly defeated Zhou Yuelong with a 10-4 win in his first match, followed by a 13-10 victory over Shaun Murphy in the second round. Having not managed to replicate his 2019 World Championship final triumph over Higgins in the following years, Trump is undoubtedly keen to regain the title come May 5.
