**Stephen Hendry Hails Luca Brecel as ‘Genius’ Despite Unconventional Approach to Snooker**
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has offered unusually candid praise for Belgium’s Luca Brecel, describing him as a “genius with a snooker cue” – even as he admits that, on first glance, Brecel’s unique rawness and lifestyle might have raised eyebrows among the sport’s purists. The remarks come as the 30-year-old defends his World Snooker Championship crown at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, once again capturing attention for both his skill and his iconoclastic approach to the game.
Brecel, renowned for his aggressive attacking play, clinched the world title in 2023, etching his name in the history books as Belgium’s first world champion in the sport. This year, he has continued his impressive run, dispatching both Ryan Day and Ding Junhui – the latter with a dominant 13-4 scoreline – to secure a quarter-final encounter with Judd Trump, currently the top-ranked player in the world. With a potential semi-final place at stake, the snooker community is abuzz over what Brecel might deliver next.
During the BBC’s live coverage, Stephen Hendry reflected on Brecel’s singular talent, noting that, “Luca Brecel, back to the Brecel that won the world title two years ago, three years ago. Incredible.” Co-commentator Seema Jaswal chimed in to highlight Brecel’s unconventional journey, which has seen him commute between countries and generally eschew the regimented routines favoured by most of his peers.
Hendry revealed that, had he not witnessed Brecel in action himself, he would have doubted that such a relaxed – almost rebellious – approach could ever work at the highest level, saying: “Until I’d seen that person play, I’d have said, ‘No, he’s got no future in the game’. But when you see the way Luca Brecel can play, with his kind of preparation, he’s just a unique talent.”
The Scottish legend went on to underline how Brecel’s very unpredictability arguably gives him an edge: “He’s just fabulous to watch. He’s an absolute genius with a snooker cue, it’s what he was put on this earth to do.” Hendry added an interesting caveat, suggesting that imposing orthodox methods or lengthy daily practice on Brecel might actually backfire: “Maybe if you took Luca and said, ‘Right, you’ve got to practise six hours a day’, he wouldn’t be the same player.”
Brecel’s daredevil, inspiring style is as apparent off the table as on it. He turned heads this year with a dramatic return to Sheffield via private jet after his first-round triumph, opting to travel back to Belgium rather than stay locally. His frankness about his lavish lifestyle has raised eyebrows and prompted debate. After winning the 2023 Championship, Brecel splurged on a Ferrari 488, a BMW M4, and a Range Rover Sport, and even gifted a Porsche Taycan to his partner, Laura Vanoverberghe. In a self-deprecating admission, he remarked, “I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire.”
Yet for all the focus on his choices away from the baize, Brecel’s snooker remains at the centre of attention. His ability to seamlessly blend natural ability with moments of genius has won him as many admirers as critics. For traditionalists, his aversion to exhaustive practice and textbook preparation challenges the orthodoxy of what it means to be a champion at the top of his game.
Now, all eyes are on the quarter-final clash. Judd Trump, at 35, is a proven force, aiming to recapture his 2019 world title after emphatic victories over Zhou Yuelong and Shaun Murphy. Trump’s technical prowess and consistency stand in contrast to Brecel’s flashy, combustible brilliance, promising a tantalising battle for a place in the semi-finals.
As the championship progresses, snooker fans and analysts alike are left pondering Hendry’s words. While Brecel once might have been dismissed as a maverick with little future in the sport, he is now impossible to ignore – both for his audacious skills and his refreshing refusal to play by anyone else’s rules. Whatever the outcome this year, Brecel’s presence is a potent reminder that brilliance, in sport as in life, can take many unexpected forms.