Luca Brecel, the defending world champion, suffered a shocking defeat at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, losing 10-9 to David Gilbert in a thrilling match that went down to the wire.
Despite being ahead 6-3 and 9-6, Brecel couldn’t close out the match as Gilbert staged a remarkable comeback to snatch victory in the deciding frame. Brecel, who had been battling a throat infection since March, refused to use it as an excuse for his defeat.
The Belgian snooker player admitted that he had been looking forward to not being world champion again, citing the pressure and attention that comes with the title. Brecel reflected on his time as champion, saying, “It was a good year, but I look forward to not being a world champion again – I don’t like all the attention.”
On the other hand, Gilbert, ranked 31st in the world, expressed his respect for Brecel and acknowledged that he had been fortunate to come out on top in a hard-fought match. Gilbert now advances to the last 16 where he will face either Robert Milkins or Pang Junxu.
Brecel’s elimination means the ‘Crucible Curse’ continues, with no first-time champion successfully defending their title the following year. Despite the disappointment, Brecel remains optimistic about his future in the sport and is determined to bounce back from this setback.