- Luca Brecel beat Mark Selby in the final of the World Snooker Championship
- He becomes fourth non-British player to win a world title at the Crucible
- Following his win against Selby, the Belgian would pocket a big payday
Luca Brecel won this year’s World Snooker Championship after defeating Mark Selby in the final and would pocket a big payday.
Brecel, who defeated defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan on the way to the final, fired four centuries to fashion a 15-10 lead heading into the evening session against Selby.
Selby then won five in a row to pull the final back to 16-15, but Brecel held his nerve and clinched victory in style with a century.
Speaking to the BBC after his win, Brecel said: ‘It’s amazing. [Selby is] the worst opponent to have in the final.
‘He just keeps coming back, he’s such a fighter and at 16-15, I didn’t fancy winning at all to be honest.
‘I was missing balls by a mile. I don’t know how I did it. Once I got to 17, I fancied if I got a chance to clear up, which I did and it’s a great feeling.’
This year, there was a total prize fund of £2,395,000million ($2.938m).
Following his victory at the Crucible, Brecel pocketed £500,000 ($622,000).
Despite losing the final, Selby would take home a generous payday of £200,000.
After failing to reach the final, both Mark Allen and Si Jiahui each received £100,000.
The breakdown of prize money is as followed:
- Winner: £500,000
- Runner-up: £200,000
- Semi-finals: £100,000
- Quarter-finals: £50,000
- Last 16: £30,000
- Last 32: £20,000
- Last 48: £15,000
- Last 80: £10,000
- Last 112: £5,000
There is also a £40,000 bonus up for grabs for a maximum 147 break and another £15,000 for the highest break in the tournament.
This year’s bonus is set to be split between Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby.
Wilson’s maximum 147 break came during his first-round match against Ryan Day, while Selby’s maximum came in the final.
In doing so, Selby’s 147 was the first in a world championship final, which came during frame 16 of his showdown with Brecel.
