2023 Crucible king falls in World Snooker Championship qualifying just three years later

Luca Brecel won the World Snooker Championship in 2023, but just three years later he will not be at the Crucible after losing in qualifying.

Brecel was in fine form as he beat the impressive Chang Bingyu in his first qualifying contest, but was downed 10-5 by Jak Jones on Wednesday night, with the Welshman making five centuries.

The Belgian Bullet spectacular conquered the Crucible when he beat Mark Selby in the ’23 final.

Earlier in the tournament he had beaten the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams, while he also produced a memorable comeback against Si Jiahui in the semi-finals, winning 17-15 from 14-5 behind.

It has been a barren time for the Bullet since then, though, and he has slipped down the rankings to his current position of 46.

The £500,000 he won at the Crucible in 2023 came off his rankings two years later and he has struggled to pick up results over the last seasons.

Are you mad about snooker?

You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro.

In my new newsletter, The Table, I’ll be analysing the biggest talking points, breaking down frames and crowning the week’s winners and losers every Monday.

With another brilliant World Championships just around the corner, now is the time to join. Sign up here.

That has partly been down to a dip in form, but also illness that has forced him to withdraw from some tournaments.

Speaking on the Peak Performance Podcast earlier this month, Brecel said: ‘This season I’ve skipped eight or nine tournaments. I’ve talked about it, I’ve not been feeling well.

‘I don’t want to talk too much because it sounds like an excuse, but it’s just the way it is.

‘I’ve skipped all the big tournaments. It wasn’t my decision to skip them, I just couldn’t physically play them, which is even more frustrating.’

The 31-year-old made the English Open quarter-finals in September, but that was the only notable result this season.

A player who has had a good season but will still not be playing at the Crucible is Jack Lisowski after losing 10-5 in the final qualifying round to China’s He Guoqiang.

Jackpot won his first ranking event this season when he memorably beat Judd Trump in the Northern Ireland Open final in September.

He then made the Welsh Open final just last month, losing to Barry Hawkins, but pocking the £150,000 BetVictor Bonus for the best performing player over the Home Nations series.

The 34-year-old was not in good form in qualifying though, tested by German amateur Umut Dikme in his opener and then fairly comfortably beaten by He on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old will be making his debut at the Crucible this month, joining Stan Moody, Liam Pullen and Antoni Kowalski, who all confirmed their debuts on Tuesday night.

After beating Brecel at the English Institute of Sport, Jak Jones tipped the Belgian to be back at the top of the sport in no time.

‘I would expect next season to have 100 per cent Luca back,’ said the Welshman. ‘I knew he’d obviously prepared well for this tournament with the way he played against Chang Bingyu.

‘It is hard if you pull out of tournaments the way Luca has and then you do play a couple of tournaments, you’re up against it.

‘So, he’ll be back in the top 16, top 8, no time.’

MORE: The young snooker stars hoping to create own Luke Littler effect at the Crucible

MORE: Dave Gilbert offers advice after being shocked by Aaron Hill’s snooker

MORE: Stephen Hendry names his ‘handful’ of World Snooker Championship contenders