Luca Brecel, 29, made headlines last year, but the Belgian snooker player is facing health issues as he prepares to defend his title. He revealed that he has been experiencing voice loss, headaches, and symptoms similar to Covid, which have been persistent since a tournament in Saudi Arabia in March. Despite his illness and a struggle for form this season, Brecel is committed to participating in this year’s tournament, though he acknowledges that he is considered an underdog.
The upcoming event is anticipated to feature interviews with various snooker figures, adding to the excitement of the World Championship. Brecel is preparing to face a tough opponent, former semi-finalist Dave Gilbert, in the opening match, where he acknowledges the challenges he is likely to encounter. Six-time world snooker champion Steven Davis has weighed in on Brecel’s chances of breaking the Crucible Curse, suggesting that it may take someone as unique as Brecel to achieve this feat.
Davis admires Brecel’s potential to handle the pressure of the tournament, but also acknowledges the unpredictability of the competition. Overall, Brecel’s prospects for retaining his World Snooker Championship title are uncertain due to his health issues and the competitive nature of the tournament. Davis suggests that it may take a player like Brecel to break the Crucible Curse, given the challenges that many great players have faced.
