'I banked £500,000 for winning World Snooker Championship – then I lost millionaire status'
Zhao Xintong must take a valuable lesson from Luca Brecel before he decides what to spend his World Snooker Championship winnings on. The Chinese sensation will still be celebrating his victory after overcoming Mark Williams 18-12.
Before he decides on what he wants to spend his £500,000 prize on, he should remember Brecel's intense celebrations. After becoming a millionaire with his win at the Crucible, Brecel quickly saw his seven-figure fortunes dwindle. Back in 2023, Brecel stunned fans by taking down Mark Selby 18-15 to win his maiden world championship.
The Belgian made history as the first player from continental Europe to claim the title. He showed potential for another run to the final, but Judd Trump halted him at the quarter-finals this year.
After winning the championship in 2023, the 'Belgian Bullet' decided to splash the cash on luxury cars, resulting in his millionaire status being no more.
In a candid confession prior to defending his title last year, he said: "I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire."
Reportedly, Brecel splurged over £250,000 on a swift Ferrari 488, dropped £80,000 for a Range Rover, and acquired a Porsche Taycan GT for his girlfriend Laura Vanoverberghe, which was rumoured to cost about £111,000.
Yet, his fleet of cars do not often see the road. In an interview with The Sun, Brecel admitted: "I got a couple of cars with my winnings. I got a Ferrari and a couple of others. Just to enjoy myself. I don't really drive it that often. I'm not really home that much."
Brecel pocketed a cool £50,000 for making it to the last eight at the Crucible this year – a tidy sum, but just a slice of his 2023 earnings. The Belgian ace was all in to cause a stir at this year's showdown, after an inconsistent last two years.
He certainly turned heads when he rocked up at the Crucible in a swanky private jet, even throwing out an invite on social media for other people to hitch a ride.
His lavish lifestyle has raised eyebrows before, with snooker icon Stephen Hendry criticising the player's focus. The seven-time world champion said: "I honestly don't know what he's (Brecel) doing with his career.
"I haven't got a clue. I see him a lot on Instagram, he's riding his bike all over the place, he's going out to dinners with his girlfriend, he seems to be having a lovely time."
While his spending is lavish, Brecel insists his life is relatively low maintenance. He said: "To be honest, I live quite a simple life, apart from the cars maybe.
"I just love being at home when I have the chance to be at home. Walk the dog, watch a bit of television, play a few games. A pretty basic life, to be honest. It may not look like that, but it is."
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