Former world champion Luca Brecel has spoken out on health problems that have prevented him from playing after withdrawing from the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
The Belgian Bullet is yet to play this season after pulling out of qualifiers for the Wuhan Open and British Open, while also withdrawing from the Championship League.
He was scheduled to play in the big-money Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah this weekend, but also withdrew from that event due to medical reasons.
The 30-year-old had offered little update as to the reason for his absence, but has now aired his frustrations over the situation.
The nature of the health issue has not been revealed, but it has prevented him travelling from his home in Belgium to play in tournaments.
Brecel wrote on Instagram on Sunday evening: ‘Hi everyone, some of you might have been wondering why I am not participating in snooker events since April.
‘The truth is that I am suffering with health problems.
‘Me and my team are doing everything we can to come out of this stronger and better than before.
‘It’s been really frustrating to not be able to travel and compete in tournaments!
‘But… I always choose to be optimistic! Tough times often lead to something great!’
Brecel last played in a World Championship quarter-final defeat to Judd Trump at the Crucible in April, having played brilliantly in Sheffield.
The 2023 world champion was spectacularly good in his second round win over Ding Junhui and played well again in the last eight, only losing to a fantastic display from the world number one.
After that 13-8 defeat, he said: ‘I’m totally ok with it. Especially the way the game went from 8-8, he just had the momentum and I had no chance to win today, that makes it easy to accept.
‘I’ve had a good tournament, played some good stuff so I’m quite happy. Obviously I wanted to win, get to the one-table set-up, but there’s still many more years to come.’
Having won the World Championship two years ago, defeat this year saw him slip down the rankings, out of the top 16 and he currently sits at number 39.
Brecel was speaking positively about facing the challenge of qualifiers and performing away from the spotlight of the main TV table.
‘There’s also a good side, less travelling maybe, less extra tournaments so for me it’s maybe better,’ he said of no longer being in the top 16,’ he said in Sheffield in April.
‘I enjoy the qualifiers to be honest, I don’t need to be on the TV table, I like being on the outside table as well. For me it’s all about playing snooker.’
Brecel’s next opportunity to play, if his health issues allow him to, will come in qualifiers for the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open in the first week of September in Leicester.
Fans will be hoping he is back in action as soon as possible, mainly as they wish him well, but also as one of the sport’s most thrilling performers when on form.
As Brecel raced into a 7-1 lead over Ding at the Crucible, six-time world champion Steve Davis said on the BBC: ‘We all have our favourites. But this is the most jaw-dropping player in the game, for me. He is astonishing.
‘It’s just ridiculous isn’t it. The crowd absolutely loving it. You’ve just got to take your hat off to this performance.
‘We’ve seen some great performances at the Crucible. The performance Luca put in to beat Mark Selby in the final two years ago was astonishing. But as a single session of snooker this is as jaw-dropping as I’ve ever seen.
‘We’ve witnessed the most amazing exhibition of snooker in one session I think I’ve ever seen at the Crucible. Not in an exhibition match, the World Championship.
‘And he’s done this to one of the greatest players that’s ever held a cue, Ding Junhui. Incredible stuff.’