STEPHEN HENDRY is baffled why 2023 world snooker champion Luca Brecel has let himself “fall off a cliff”.
The seven-time Crucible king reckons Brecel has stepped off the gas – and “can’t understand” why.
Stephen Hendry says Luca Brecel has ‘talent to burn’
GettyBrecel claims criticism is ‘strange and his best snooker years are yet to come[/caption]
Hendry, 55, is gunning for the Belgian Bullet after the 29-year-old’s form declined so much that his place on next year’s professional tour has been in doubt.
Brecel reacted to winning his sport’s showpiece event 19 months ago by purchasing a Ferrari, a Range Rover and a Porsche.
And over the next four months he celebrated by visiting 14 countries, sharing snaps from exotic venues on social media.
However, Brecel has knuckled down more in recent weeks, notably reaching the Scottish Open quarter-finals in December.
And he finds criticism of his situation “strange”.
He said: “I don’t see any problem. I think the next 10 years will be my best years.”
But one of the sport’s biggest names still has major doubts over Brecel.
Appearing on his self-named Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips YouTube channel, the Scot explained his feelings to Welsh ace Dominic Dale.
PALuca Brecel stunned Mark Selby 18-15 in the 2023 world championship final[/caption]
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The cuer turned TV pundit said: “He’s fallen off a cliff. What a great player, though.
“It’s very frustrating for me to watch him as someone who is so talented… who’s still in his 20s, who could still for the next 10, 15 years win so many tournaments, earn so much money… and who doesn’t seem interested.
“Everyone’s got their one way of living their life, but at the end of the day you’re so good at doing something, why would you not?”
However, Brecel said earlier this month: “I think I’m getting back to my normal level.
” I’m doing everything right, so it’s only a matter of time before I play some good tournaments again. I don’t see any problem.”
But Hendry doesn’t sound convinced.
He told Dale: “It’s a strange one, isn’t it. He talks like he want to do the Iron Man and I’m, like, ‘You’re a snooker player, mate’.
“I don’t understand it, but if he’s happy he’s happy,
“But I just think he’s so good, why would you not give your career everything for the next 10 years… Talent to burn.”
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
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
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