Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated
1 year ago

World Snooker Championship LIVE: Score and result as Luca Brecel holds off Mark Selby to win maiden title

Four-time world champion Mark Selby couldn’t stop mercurial Belgian Luca Brecel from winning the World Championship final at the Crucible

Ben Fleming
Tuesday 02 May 2023 10:31 EDT
Comments
Protester covers snooker table in orange powder during World Championships

Luca Brecel beat Mark Selby to become the first ever snooker world champion from mainland Europe.

The ‘Belgian Bullet’ resisted a sensational comeback effort by Selby to win his maiden title aged 28. He got the first chance in the last frame after a mistake by Selby and he duly posted his fifth century of the match, a brilliant 112, to seal an 18-15 victory.

“It was so tough,” said Brecel. “He’s the worst opponent to have in a final! He keeps coming back, he’s such a fighter. I don’t know how I did it.”

Relive all the action from the Crucible Theatre in our live blog, below:

1 year ago

Selby 14-16 Brecel - trouble for Luca

Selby can’t clear the table but it matters not. It’s another one in the books for Selby and he’s now back in within two of the Belgian who was really poor in that frame.

He’s still two ahead but he needs to turn the momentum of this game around and he starts positively with a good break-off to start the 31st frame.

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 21:16
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

Out of position on a couple of occasions by Selby and he has to opt for safety after a break of 50. The Englishman is immediately back in a scoring position, though, after a wild long red attempt from Brecel - what a change from earlier in the day when he couldn’t miss.

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 21:12
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

No nerves from Selby, however. He races into the twenties and splits the back expertly with a shot off the blue. This could be 14-16 before we know it...

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 21:06
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

A long-range pot is open for Brecel after the Selby break-off but he catches it far too thick and it misses comfortably. Selby can take advantage and slots a different red - the first signs of nerves from the Belgian, perhaps?

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 21:03
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

Nothing coming to fruition after that initial break-off and both players give each other the nod and the balls are re-racked. Take two...

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 21:00
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

The players are back out and Selby gets us underway for the final time after the mid-session break.

Two frames to win for Brecel. Five for Selby. All to play for...

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 20:57
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

The final couple of shots from Selby’s remarkable 122 clearance to get back within three of Brecel:

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 20:54
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel

It’s time for the mid-session break with that frame wrapped and plenty to ponder for both players. Brecel had the chance at one point during the 28th frame to move within a frame of the world title. But Selby dug in, as he has so many times during his career, and now he is back to within three.

Brecel is still two away from the magical 18 required for the title but you have to feel that the momentum has shifted in this contest and Selby will no doubt be fired up to continue his comeback when we resume.

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 20:40
1 year ago

Selby 13-16 Brecel - Selby within 3

A player of Selby’s calibre was not going to make a mistake with the way those reds were split around the table. It’s a professional 122 clearance and a stern reminder to Brecel that he is very much still in a contest as Selby moves back within three.

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 20:37
1 year ago

Selby 12-16 Brecel

Brecel has often left a red open on the right-hand side after his break-off and he does so again. Selby was missing them earlier in the day but he makes no mistake now. A couple more reds before a glorious pack split off the black and now this frame is his to lose.

Ben Fleming1 May 2023 20:28

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in