Missing former snooker world champion announces 'truth' about long mystery absence
'Me and my team are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before,' said the snooker ace
Brecel (left) has opened up on his health struggles
Former snooker world champion Luca Brecel has revealed he is "suffering from health problems", having been absent from tournaments for the last four months.
The 30-year-old - who won the Snooker World Championship in 2023 - has pulled out of qualifiers for both the Wuhan and British Opens, as well as the Championship League in recent weeks. He last took to the table at this year's World Championship at the Crucible in April, when he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Judd Trump.
Brecel was due to participate at the Saudi Arabia Masters over the weekend but withdrew from his scheduled match on Sunday due to what he said were "medical reasons".
He has now opened up on his health struggles in a social media post, as he issued a message to his followers explaining why he had been missing from the circuit for months.
In a story posted on his Instagram account, 'The Belgian Bullet' said: "Hi everyone, some of you might have been wondering why I am not participating in snooker events since April.
"The truth is that I am suffering with health problems. Me and my team are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before.
Article continues below
"It's been really frustrating to not be able to travel and compete in tournaments," he added.
"But... I always choose to be optimistic! Tough times often lead to something great!"
The exact nature of Brecel's health issues has not been disclosed, but they are clearly serious enough to prevent him from travelling to tournaments from his home in Belgium.
His medical setback comes within a difficult period in the Belgian star's career, which has stalled somewhat since he was crowned world champion two years ago.
That victory saw him defeat four-time champion Mark Selby in the final and propelled him to number two in the world, but Brecel has since endured a tough couple of years.
His performances at tournaments last season saw him slip to 39th in the World Snooker Tour rankings, while his health struggles have meant he has missed the first four events of the new snooker calendar.
Article continues below
When Brecel will return to action remains to be seen, but his earliest opportunity won't come until early September, with the Xi'an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open qualifiers both potential options.
It comes after six-time world champion Steve Davis described Brecel as "the most jaw-dropping player" in world snooker after a stunning win over Ding Junhui at the Crucible earlier this year.
"We all have our favourites," Davis told the BBC. "But this is the most jaw-dropping player in the game, for me. He is astonishing."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing's 2025 second star is REVEALED: Love Island winner Dani Dyer is confirmed to be taking part in the new series
The second star set to compete in Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has been revealed. Former Love Island winner Dani Dyer is the next name to have been confirmed after Olympian and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was announced today. Harry , known for his alter-ego Nitro, was the first celebrity revealed to taking part in the new series, after competing on the Christmas Special last year. His involvement was revealed in a prank to CBBC Newsround viewers, after the BBC had previously said the first stars taking part would be revealed much later in the day. Flexing his reputation as a star of Gladiators: Epic Pranks, Harry, 36, appeared live in the Newsround studio disguised as 'world-famous choreographer Nicky Trott', there to talk about his recent work on a scientific study into the benefits of dancing. His disguise was not enough to fool Newsround presenter Jenny Lawrence though, who quickly rumbled who she was really talking to. Harry then gave the real reason he was there: to tell the world he's taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing! Harry is an Olympian, multi gold medal-winning Team GB sprinter, and star of Gladiators. As a sprinter he has competed at the highest level in the UK since his youth, becoming the first athlete to win gold medals at both 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships, and winning the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17. Harry has gone on to win gold in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a three-time European Champion and two-time Commonwealth Champion. In 2023, Harry was unveiled as Nitro in the hit BBC series Gladiators, and he took part in last year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special partnered with Nancy Xu. On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Harry said: 'After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I'm so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I'm ready to give it all I've got. 'I'll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let's hope I'm as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.' The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced live on The One Show at 7pm. His involvement was revealed in a prank to CBBC Newsround viewers on Monday, after the BBC had previously said the first stars taking part would be revealed much later in the day Harry is set to take part in Strictly's main series, after competing in the Christmas Special last year with Nancy Xu (pictured) On Sunday it was reported that Natalie Imbruglia and Delta Goodrem are 'in negotiations' to take part in the show. A new report suggested the two Australian stars are both in talks to appear while another former Neighbours star - Stefan Dennis - is also said to be in the running. A source told The Sun: 'Talks are at a point where things could go in a number of different directions but if both celebrities signed up then that would be seen as quite a coup for the show. 'Delta and Natalie would bring some glamour to the programme, and be some of this year's most eagerly anticipated competitors. 'If all three former Neighbours stars end up performing, the Strictly dance floor will end up looking more like Ramsay Street.' Strictly's new series has been hit by a string of scandals in the lead-up to its return, including revelations that the broadcaster had hired a law firm to probe allegations of drug taking by two individuals. One of the stars involved in the drugs probe was also suspected of drinking while working on the show after crew smelt alcohol on their breath. The Sun alleged that it was widely known that the pair, who have not been named, took the Class A substance, and that one of these Strictly performers was known for being a drinker. The publication have now reported that junior members of the team were asked to keep an eye on them during last year's show and to look for signs that they may have been boozing during work hours. Over the weekend, a staffer also claimed they were offered cocaine by one of the show's stars. He told The Sun: 'The main partying is on site at Elstree after filming of the live show has finished. Boozing and drug taking goes on until 3am, sometimes 4am. The smoking area outside is a hive of activity. Cocaine gets taken there'. He went on to claim that drug use was so common on the show, that when he found a suspicious bag of white powder, an unfazed senior producer told him to 'leave it on my desk' as the incident failed to raise even an eyebrow. The staff member also said the show's annual special filmed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom was an especially 'big party night' full of debauchery. 'I was offered cocaine by a star at an after show party. Lots of people would go back to the hotel. It was a closed-off party, just for the cast and crew. It went on until 5am, even to 6am, it was insane. People were wired and you could see it in their eyes'. A BBC spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.' The shock allegations come amid a long period of controversy for the BBC and Strictly over the past year or so. In July last year, more than six months after quitting the show citing 'personal reasons', actress Amanda Abbington accused pro dancer Giovanni Pernice of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' during their time dancing together on Strictly. Giovanni rejected the claims immediately, and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld. When BBC bosses published their report into Giovanni's behaviour, it cleared him of the most serious allegations of physical aggression, but upheld verbal bullying and harassment. Complaints of verbal bullying and harassment meant the BBC issued an apology to Amanda, but Giovanni said he was 'pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour '. Elsewhere, the show was plunged into crisis after Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans made a controversial joke during his time preparing for the Strictly tour in January. He used a vile sexual innuendo and was also caught up in a 'wandering hand' incident with dance partner Katya Jones , who seemed to remove his arm from her lower waist on the show. After the BBC launched an investigation into his conduct, bosses decided not to renew his radio contract for his show. The TV star confirmed in May that they will not be renewing his one-year rolling contract following a four-month investigation after the inappropriate comments made during his time on Strictly. Elsewhere, in further scandals for the BBC, Gregg Wallace was recently dismissed from MasterChef after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation. While his co-star John Torode was also sacked after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of. In separate further controversy, it's recently been reported that Naga Munchetty could face an investigation from BBC bosses after she was accused of bullying a junior colleague. The BBC Breakfast host, 50, has been placed 'under review' while bosses consider escalating complaints to a formal investigation, The Sun reports. A source said higher-ups had heard from several colleagues and logged concerns over her 'hard' and 'bullying' behaviour on the breakfast show, as well as her Radio 5 Live show.
Metro
11 hours ago
- Metro
First Match of the Day panel since Gary Lineker's BBC exit revealed
The first Match of the Day panel since Gary Lineker left the BBC has been revealed. Ex-England striker Lineker, 64, spent 26 years in the Match of the Day hotseat before leaving the BBC in May. The presenter announced last November that he would stop hosting the iconic football highlights show at the end of the Premier League season. Lineker was due to continue working with the BBC on their coverage of the FA Cup and next summer's World Cup but agreed to leave completely after apologising for sharing an antisemitic post on social media. The BBC have hired Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates as three new hosts of Match of the Day following Lineker's exit. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – sign up, it's an open goal. According to the Daily Telegraph, Chapman will be given responsibility to host the first Match of the Day programme without Lineker. They say that 'barring any last-minute hitches', Chapman will be joined by new star pundit Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer on the flagship show. The first Match of the Day of the season will be shown on Saturday night and include highlights of champions Liverpool's opening game against Bournemouth and Burnley's first game back in the top-flight. Chapman, Logan and Cates will share presenting duties across Match of the Day, which is shown on Saturday night, and Sunday night's Match of the Day 2. The BBC has signed Manchester United and England legend Rooney as a pundit on a two-year deal worth around £800,000. Despite Lineker's exit, Chapman does not expect a huge amount of change from Match of the Day going forwards. 'I know people keep saying, 'Oh, this will change, or that will change'. I genuinely don't think anything will change,' he said recently. 'It will still be showing all the highlights and having a little bit of a chat. So, if you're wanting a lot of change I suppose you're going to be a bit disappointed by it. 'I think we still do the same thing, and talk about football, and have a laugh and that'll be that.' More Trending Lineker held back tears as he signed off from his final edition of Match of the Day on the final day of last season's Premier League. 'It's been an absolute privilege to have hosted Match of the Day for a quarter of a century,' he said. 'It's been utterly joyous. Speaking directly into the camera to viewers at home, he added: 'And my final thank you goes to all of you. 'Thank you for watching, thank you for all your love and support over the years. It's been so special, and I'm sorry that your team was always on last.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Andi Oliver 'wants to kill' Radio 1 DJ after lewd comments towards daughter Miquita MORE: Jack Grealish sent warning after Everton agree £50m loan move MORE: Barcelona star responds to Manchester United and Chelsea transfer interest
BBC News
11 hours ago
- BBC News
🎧 'You'd be a Baleba'
The Devils' Advocate team at BBC Radio Manchester have dropped a fresh episode for your week there's chat about Benjamin Sesko's arrival, the latest transfer speculation and the start of the brand new Premier League to the full episode on BBC Sounds
