Luca Brecel says he has ‘better chance than last year’ at World Championship – ‘I’m even stronger now’

Luca Brecel feels he has a “better chance this year than last” to win the World Championship and end the ‘Crucible curse’ after finding “more hunger than ever” in recent weeks.

However, he has since struggled for form, failing to win a single title in 2023-24 or get past the quarter-finals at a ranking event.

“I feel very good. I feel like I’ve got a better chance this year than last year,” Brecel said to the WST.

“It’s funny because I played really well in that tournament, but I think in my mind I’m even stronger now than last season.”

Brecel won’t only have to turn around his own recent form to defend his title.

He will also have to end the infamous ‘Crucible curse’ that has seen no first-time winner of the World Championship retain the title since it moved to the Sheffield venue in 1977.

“You never know, I could lose the first round, which would be OK, but I would love to give it a good chance and break the Crucible curse,” Brecel added.

Pressed on why he feels he is in a stronger position now, the Belgian said: “Just more hunger than ever in my career, to be honest.

“I’ve always had struggles with motivation and getting up for games.

“It’s not a problem in the last few weeks, I’ve been really hungry and I’m sure it’s not going to go away because I don’t want to make the same mistakes as I have in the past.

“I’ve learned a lot this year and I think it’s good that it happened.”

Brecel faces Oliver Brown in the second round of the World Open, where he is seeded second.

After the event in China, the Tour Championship in Manchester will be the penultimate ranking event of the season before the World Championship in Sheffield.