Luca Brecel 'confident' of rapid return to title glory after ending three-month winless run at Snooker Shoot Out - 'Just a matter of time'
Updated 11/12/2025 at 13:23 GMT
Luca Brecel says he is "really up for it" as he bids to regain the swashbuckling form that helped him become Belgium's first world champion two years ago with an 18-15 final win over Mark Selby. Brecel made a winning start to his Snooker Shoot Out campaign in Blackpool on Wednesday by defeating Long Zehuang in the first round, his first victory at a ranking event since September.
O’Sullivan says Brecel ‘will come good’ but jokes world champion ‘probably buying too many cars’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Luca Brecel made a winning start to his campaign at the 9Club Shoot Out in Blackpool on Wednesday before predicting better times ahead in the new year.
The 2023 world champion, who has dropped to 43rd spot in the latest rankings, completed his first win at a ranking event since defeating Robbie Williams 4-3 at the English Open in September with a 61-11 success against Long Zehuang in the rapid one-frame format.
While the random nature of the Shoot Out is hardly a reliable indicator of future riches, the former world No. 2 feels content with the state of his game as he bids to regain the title-winning form that saw him defeat Mark Selby 18-15 to capture the sport's biggest prize at the Crucible.
"I felt very calm, in control of the game and potted some good balls," Brecel, 30, told World Snooker Tour at the Blackpool Tower Circus. "In this event, you just have to pot balls and don't do stupid things. I don't mind a loud crowd because I can still keep calm.
"I haven't played in many events this season, so I want to play some games now. I am really up for it, for the second half of the season.
"I am more confident of winning a tournament this season than I have been for the past ten seasons. If you are good you are always going to get back, no matter how far you drop down. It's just a matter of time."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/04/27/image-f69aceb6-81f0-4803-a531-e041ac7aac86-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Typical Luca' - Brecel dazzles with two stunning plants
Video credit: TNT Sports
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has been scathing about Brecel's fall from the summit since conquering the Crucible, describing his collapse as "scandalous."
"We've talked about Luca a lot since winning the world title," Hendry said on the Snooker Club podcast. "Will he ever come back to that level?
"I saw a picture of him saying he was going to 'work, work, work'. With Luca, I don't know what that means. Does it mean half an hour? Are we ever going to see him back in the semi-finals or finals of a tournament? It's scandalous."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/09/02/image-79403ce1-7a0a-4b05-ad1a-55bfdb3149ee-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch extraordinary moment Brecel quits mid-match at Xi'an Grand Prix
Video credit: TNT Sports
Brecel's struggles continued in the third qualifying round of the UK Championship last month when the former Crucible winner suffered a shock 6-3 loss to world No. 106 Ian Burns at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.
He remains a lowly 85th on the one-year list with earnings of only £16,800, meaning he is likely to miss out on appearances in the World Grand Prix, Players Championship and the Tour Championship later in the season.
As it stands, he will have to win at least two qualifiers in Sheffield to reach the last 32 of the World Championship in April.
- Can Zhao end a curious Crucible Curse at Shoot Out in Blackpool?
- Scottish Open 2025: How to watch on TNT Sports and discovery+
- 'Looked up to him for years' - UK champion Selby salutes fellow icon and Triple Crown originator
Brecel has produced 228 centuries since turning professional in 2011, but he is yet to make one this season.
He did enjoy a run to the quarter-finals of the English Open in Brentwood in September, losing 5-4 to Zhou Yuelong, but has also opted out of several events this season.
He failed to appear for his Wuhan Open qualifier with Haris Tahir in June and the British Open qualifiers before skipping the Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah, where he was due to meet Sanderson Lam in the third round in August.
Brecel then opted to quit his best-of-nine frame qualifier at the Xi'an Grand Prix early in September, trailing world No. 71 Sunny Akani 2-0 and 40-1 in the third frame, citing issues with his cue as the reason behind the walkout.
And the former Scottish Open champion suffered another early season setback at the International Championship qualifiers as he lost 6-4 to world No. 123 Liu Wenwei in the first round.
After failing to turn up for a Scottish Open qualifier in Wigan against Steven Hallworth in October, he then lost 4-1 to Stephen Maguire in his opening match in Belfast at the Northern Ireland Open.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/12/10/image-90658b4e-7fd4-4bdb-962b-3836e45ae144-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'What is the confusion here now?' - Controversy and chaos at end of Shoot Out clash
Video credit: TNT Sports
It should also be noted that Brecel has battled health concerns, revealing to newspaper reporters that he had sought medical help from doctors regarding issues with fatigue.
"Some people have come up to me and said, ‘Oh, is it mental health?’ and they have tried to help," he said.
"It’s not my head. I’m perfectly happy. I’m fine. It’s not mental. It’s physical things in my body. Strange. I’ve been to the doctor many, many times. Maybe 18 times in three to four months."
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the 9Club Shoot Out and Scottish Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement