FORMER snooker world champion Luca Brecel has announced that his absence from recent tournaments has been a result of health problems.
Brecel has been absent from professional snooker in recent weeks, pulling out of qualifiers for both the Wuhan and British Opens, as well as the Championship League.
PAFormer snooker world champion Luca Brecel has revealed a battle with health issues is the reason behind his absence from recent snooker events[/caption]
On Sunday he suddenly withdrew from his scheduled match at the Saudi Arabia Masters this weekend, citing ‘medical reasons.’
Now the Belgian Bullet has taken to social media to address his non-participation in the beginning of this snooker season.
In a story posted to his Instagram account, he said: “Hi everyone, some of you might have been wondering why I am not participating in snooker events since April.
“The truth is that I am suffering with health problems.
Not known, clear with picture deskBrecel took to Instagram to update fans on his health struggles[/caption]
“Me and my team are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before.
“It’s been really frustrating to not be able to travel and compete in tournaments!
“But… I always choose to be optimistic! Tough times often lead to something great!”
The 30-year-old was set to face Englishman Sanderson Lam in the third round of the Saudi Arabia Masters on Sunday, with Lam now receiving a bye.
Details surrounding the nature of his health issues have not been released, but they are serious enough to prevent the snooker maverick from travelling to tournaments.
It has been a tough few years for Brecel since he won the World Championship in 2023.
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 – John Spencer
1970 – Ray Reardon
1971 – John Spencer
1972 – Alex Higgins
1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
1977 – John Spencer (2)
1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
1983 – Steve Davis (2)
1984 – Steve Davis (3)
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis (4)
1988 – Steve Davis (5)
1989 – Steve Davis (6)
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams (2)
2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins (2)
2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
2009 – John Higgins (3)
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins (4)
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby (2)
2017 – Mark Selby (3)
2018 – Mark Williams (3)
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
2021 – Mark Selby (4)
2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
2023 – Luca Brecel
2024 – Kyren Wilson
2025 – Zhao Xintong
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 – Alex Higgins
His last contest came in the quarter-finals of April’s World Championships at the Crucible, where Brecel put up a valiant effort but fell 13-8 to world number one Judd Trump.
His tournament performances last season saw him slip down to 39th in the World Snooker Tour rankings.
His health absence has coincided with the first four events of the 2025-26 snooker calendar, meaning his campaign to reignite his past form has got off to a frustrating start.
His next opportunity to play won’t come until early September, when he could compete at the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open qualifiers in Leicester.
Whether he will be well enough to compete, or whether his health issues will continue to keep him out of the spotlight of the tour, remains to be seen.
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