Luca Brecel sends warning to rivals after winning World Championship title

The 28-year-old produced a stunning run this year in Sheffield, downing Ricky Walden, Mark Williams, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Si Jiahui before ousting the four-time world champion in the final.

The Belgian Bullet was a three-time ranking event winner and a seeded player when he arrived at the Crucible, but he had never won a match at the famous venue before so this title came somewhat out of the blue.

However, he doesn’t think it will be his last big prize, and not only can he keep up this level of performance, but improve on it.

Asked whether he can keep up his immense displays, he said: ‘I think so because I don’t think I played my best game, to be fair. I missed so many silly balls in this final and maybe I should have won easier.

‘But probably Mark would say the same because he wasn’t at his best either. I think in the future if I can cut out those little mistakes I can get even better, but it’s not something to think about now. I’m just going to enjoy the moment.

‘Who would have thought that this moment would be happening right now? I’m only 28 and still so much time left in my career, hopefully there’s many more to follow.’

Brecel had to be brilliant to beat Selby, who became the first player to make a 147 in a Crucible final, and the Englishman was not surprised to see that level of display from the Bullet.

‘He’s been that kind of talent waiting to happen for years,’ said the gallant runner-up. ‘It doesn’t surprise me, the way he played, because I know that he’s capable of that, when he just goes mental.

‘You cant fluke the World Championship. People might say it’s a one-off and he might not get there again. Yeah, he might not, but it’s not a fluke him winning it.

‘Look at the players he beat and how he beat them, what he’s come back from. Ricky, Mark Williams, Ronnie, Si in the semis and to play like that in his first final as well, it’s incredible. I’m really chuffed for him.’

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