Live coverage of the World Snooker Championship: A player defeats Mark Selby to earn his first title.

Live coverage of the World Snooker Championship:A Player defeats Mark Selby to earn his first title.

In the World Championship final at the Crucible, Luca Brecel,

a flamboyant Belgian, defeated four-time world champion Mark Selby.

Snooker table protester covered in orange powder during the World Championships

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Snooker table protester covered in orange powder during the World Championships
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Ignoring practice to get wasted: Luca Brecel’s improbable path to the greatest prize in snooker
To become the first-ever continental European snooker world champion, Luca Brecel defeated Mark Selby.

The 28-year-old “Belgian Bullet” overcame Selby’s incredible comeback attempt to win his first title. After a blunder by Selby, he was given the opportunity to bat first in the final frame. He duly scored his fifth century of the game, a superb 112, to ensure an 18–15 triumph.

Brecel remarked, “It was so tough.” “Having him as a final opponent is the worst idea! He’s such a fighter; he never quits. I’m not sure how I managed to achieve it.

The 28-year-old defeated Mark Selby in the World Championship final, making him a new star in snooker and for Belgium, according to Lawrence Ostlere at the Crucible.

And with that, another World Championship is history, and what a competition it has been. There were two 147s, protests that stopped the play, Si Jiahui’s ascent, and ultimately, the unpredictable Luca Brecel emerged victorious.

He triumphs in an exciting match against Mark Selby that kept us all on the tip of our seats with its twists and turns, superb strokeplay, and drama.

That evening session was nerve-wracking at times, but Brecel certainly deserved it. The basis for a world title history was laid by his play yesterday and his outstanding performance this afternoon.

There’s a new star in snooker and the first world champion from mainland Europe.

It’s incredible; I have no idea why I can’t see farther.

I didn’t think I would win at all when it was 16–15 because I was missing balls by a long shot, but I made a nice break. He’s the hardest opponent to have in a final because he just keeps coming back.

The game of pool is challenging; in the opening frame, I had a chance to lose to Ricky Walden, but I prevailed 10-9. It’s crazy that in snooker, there are such tiny margins of victory; if I had lost that game, everyone would have said, “Oh he’s lost again.

I truly have the greatest teammates, friends, parents, and girlfriend in the world, which gives me an advantage when we play. Without that squad, it’s hard to play your best game.

“I’m just going to enjoy this; I won’t be practicing for a few weeks or months. This week has been crazy—all I’ve done is party, with no practice—this shouldn’t be allowed!

Regarding snooker in Belgium: “It’s going to blow up, I was so nervous because I just wanted it to happen for Europe and Belgium, and now I’m so happy, I don’t know how I did it.

Congratulations to Luca! He comes from a wonderful family and is a talented young man. Enjoy your year; you deserve it, friend; you gave it your all.

Regarding his maximum break of 147 yesterday: “It was fantastic to achieve a 147 at the Crucible; it was a goal I had always had.” I never would have imagined myself doing it in a final; last night’s atmosphere was incredible and will be in my memory forever.

But today isn’t about me; Luca had an incredible performance.

He appeared as though he would win the frame in a single visit each time he had the opportunity. It was difficult; I struggled to get back to the 16–15 range and was pushing into the red due to a stinky area. I would have been more at ease if I had potted it, and things could have turned out differently if I had returned to 16-16.

Brecel is ecstatic as the realization of his achievement sinks in. What a victory and what a feat. Until this year, he had never won at The Crucible, but now his name is being written into the annals of history.