Former world snooker champion Luca Brecel has revealed that ongoing health problems have significantly disrupted his career over the past year, forcing him to scale back both his playing schedule and fitness ambitions.
The Belgian star competed just 21 times across 10 tournaments last season and skipped several major events. Brecel, who famously won the World Championship in 2023, admitted an undisclosed underlying health issue has prevented him from returning to his best form.
Now ranked 44th in the world, the 31-year-old also abandoned plans to compete in an Ironman triathlon because of the condition. Instead of running, which he says currently puts too much strain on his joints, he has switched to long walks and low-impact exercise in an effort to improve his fitness and lose weight.
Brecel explained that physical health has become his top priority after what he described as a difficult year. Although he enjoys running and outdoor activity, he said he is no longer fit enough to train the way he used to and is focused instead on gradual recovery.
The former world champion admitted the issue has badly affected his snooker career, revealing that he withdrew from between five and ten tournaments last season, including events in Saudi Arabia and China. According to Brecel, missing competitions has cost him ranking points, match sharpness and confidence.
Despite the setbacks, he says he is beginning to feel better and is optimistic about the future. Brecel believes he still possesses the ability required to compete at the highest level but acknowledged that rediscovering confidence in matches is the key challenge. He added that a strong run of performances could quickly make him dangerous again on the table.
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