The Belgian won the 2023 tournament in impressive fashion but was unable to break the trend of first-time winners failing to defend their title. Despite leading most of the match against David Gilbert, he ultimately lost 10-9 after a final-frame decider.
This made him the 19th first-time champion to be unable to defend their title at the renowned venue. Gilbert, who had been a semi-finalist in 2019, produced an excellent comeback, leveling the match with three successive half-centuries and then securing the win with a nerveless 65.
This victory marked a significant comeback for Gilbert, who had only won a single Crucible match in the four years since his previous run to the last four. He expressed doubts about his motivation to continue during this period but now plans to take a break and improve his fitness ahead of the next season.
Brecel, the Belgian player, acknowledged Gilbert’s strong performance and expressed hope for his success in the championship. He attributed his own fatigue towards the end of the match but emphasized that he gave his best effort.
He plans to prioritize improving his strength for the next season after taking some time off.
