Luca Brecel holds off late Mark Selby fightback to win first world snooker title

It may have taken him nine years more than he originally planned, but Luca Brecel’s childhood prophecy has finally been fulfilled. Before he had even stepped through the doors of a Crucible Theatre as a highly-rated 17-year-old, becoming the youngest player in the tournament’s history, the Belgian had already predicted he would become world champion by the age of 19.

That, clearly, did not materialise as planned. Brecel hadn’t even won a match here as recently as three weeks ago, going out in the first round on all five of his previous appearances at the Crucible. But now, snooker has its first world champion from mainland Europe and the boy who first picked up a cue as a precocious nine-year-old has delivered on his promise.

Up until now, the town of Maasmechelen’s most famous sporting export was the Arsenal forward, Leandro Trossard. But after surviving a thrilling fightback from Mark Selby on Monday evening, Belgium has a new sporting superstar to celebrate. The 28-year-old is the youngest world champion since Shaun Murphy in 2005: but he had to survive a nerve-shredding night in Sheffield.

Leading 9-8 overnight, Brecel won six of the eight frames in Monday’s afternoon session to move 15-10 ahead. When he extended that lead to six with the first frame of the evening, it felt like a case of when, rather than if, he would get the job done. But Selby, snooker’s granite-like grandmaster, stirred superbly to bring it back to 16-15.

It felt like an inevitability Brecel would wilt. But somehow, he crafted a chance to move one away before the following frame, with the wind back behind his sails, closed the final out with a break of 112 to fulfil his dreams. Brecel has been wonderful all tournament, playing entertaining