Crucible Seeds 2024: Luca Brecel

Defending champion Brecel’s Crucible story is an all-or-nothing tale. The Belgian became the youngest ever player to grace the Crucible stage when he qualified in 2012, aged just 17 years and 45 days old – a record which still stands. However, each of his first five trips to the Theatre of Dreams ended in defeat. Last year, he swept all of that aside and finally produced his swashbuckling best in snooker’s showpiece event. After surviving a deciding frame against Ricky Walden in the first round, Brecel beat Mark Williams, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Si Jiahui to make the final. He defeated Mark Selby 18-15 in an epic final to fulfil his snooker destiny and reach the summit of the sport.

Brecel’s best two performances of the campaign have come in invitational events. He beat Mark Williams, Robert Milkins and Neil Robertson on his way to the title match at the Shanghai Masters. A pulsating final ended in defeat by an 11-9 scoreline at the hands of Ronnie O’Sullivan. He made the final at the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, losing out again to O’Sullivan. Last month Brecel won the World Mixed Doubles alongside Reanne Evans.

Brecel's greatest moment is without doubt last year's Crucible triumph. He swept to the top of the snooker world after scoring his first ever match win at the Theatre of Dreams in the opening round. It made him Belgium and continental Europe's first ever World Champion.