Luca Brecel secures perfect start to season by winning Championship League Snooker

Luca Brecel has won the first ranking event of the 2022/23 season by beating Lu Ning in the final of Championship League Snooker.

It is the third ranking title of the Belgian Bullet’s career as he continues the winning form he showed last campaign when he won the Scottish Open and reached the UK Championship final.

It looked unlikely for Brecel in the final game of his third group on Friday when he needed to beat Zhao Xintong 3-0 to make the final, but that’s exactly what he did, whitewashing the man he lost to in last year’s UK Championship showpiece.

Lifting the first trophy of the season, as well as winning his only game in another tournament so far this campaign, and it has been the dream start for the 27-year-old, who picks up a total of £33,000 for his efforts in the Championship League.

‘I cant describe it, it’s surreal,’ Brecel told Dave Hendon on Free Sports. ‘It feels fantastic, I played so well the whole tournament, I felt like I was playing in practice, so that’s always good.

‘I really enjoyed it. But to be here as a winner is strange, because I could have lost the last game [against Zhao], I had to win 3-0, it’s crazy.

‘It’s unbelievable, this is all you can wish for. It’s the best start you can hope for, so it’s amazing and I can’t wait to play the next tournament in Germany.’

Ronnie O'Sullivan suffers shock defeats and exit from Championship League Snooker

2022 European Masters draw and schedule announced as Ronnie O'Sullivan faces namesake

O'Sullivan is Britain's most talented sportsman ever, reckons Hamilton

There was an emotional moment after Brecel lifted the trophy as he hugged his father Carlo, his biggest supporter who is a regular face on the snooker circuit, but missed his two previous ranking wins.

‘Fantast