Luca Brecel holds nerve to win World Snooker Championship

Luca Brecel has held off a spirited challenge from Mark Selby to win the World Snooker Championship.

The Belgian was forced to withstand two separate comebacks and a 147 break from the four-time champion across the two days before eventually prevailing by an 18-15 scoreline.

Brecel, the ninth seed, becomes world champion having initially entered this tournament without ever recording a victory at the Crucible.

Resuming the final session with a 15-10 advantage, Brecel quickly extended his lead to six frames with a composed 67, but Selby was always likely to mount the pressure on his opponent when there was minimal margin for error.

History for Belgium.

History for Snooker.

Luca Brecel becomes the first player from mainland Europe to lift the World Championship! 🇧🇪#CazooWorldChampionship | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/YT1MePDlr2

— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) May 1, 2023

After reducing the deficit with a 78 break, Selby dug deep to make it 16-12, and the momentum was with the Englishman as he went on to compile a 122 before the interval.

Successive half-centuries saw the gap become one, but luck turned in Brecel's favour in the 32nd frame as he capitalised on a number of missed opportunities for his opponent.

However, there was nothing fortunate about how Brecel closed the match, making a 112 break without reply as he closed out one of the most memorable campaigns in the history of the tournament.