SNOOKER’S top dog Mark Allen has taken a swipe at former world champion Luca Brecel.
Allen, who is currently world No.1, has claimed that Brecel didn’t do enough for the sport of snooker after his World Championships success in 2023.
GettyMark Allen has hit out at Luca Brecel[/caption]
GettyFormer world champ Brecel has been criticised for ‘not carrying the sport’[/caption]
Brecel, who at times has been better known for his flash lifestyle rather than his potting skills, earned the title of world champion at the Crucible last year.
But the Belgian has since been knocked off his perch with Kyren Wilson coming out on top at this year’s World Championship.
Brecel was beaten by David Gilbert in first round of this year’s rendition of the iconic tournament and has gotten off to a poor start in the new campaign too.
Mark Allen was hoping that Brecel would be able to kick on and do more following his 2023 success and has slammed the 29-year-old’s tame impact on the snooker world since that day.
While the Pistol has also explained how he thinks new champ Wilson will be able to move the sport forward.
Speaking to Metro, he said: “I think he’s [Wilson] who’s going to be perfect for World Snooker as world champion.
“He’s a good advert for the sport, he carries himself well, speaks well and he’s going to be determined in every match he plays.
“No disrespect to Luca, because he thoroughly deserved to win his World Championship, but I don’t think he did much for World Snooker, he didn’t really carry the sport for the next 12 months.
PABrecel won the World Snooker Championship in 2023[/caption]
PAKyren Wilson replaced Brecel as world champ this year[/caption]
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“I think sometimes the way he speaks about the game doesn’t endear himself to people who are grafting away trying to get better.
“I think Kyren is the opposite of that. But each to their own, they’re both world champions at the end of the day.”
Brecel has failed to win any of his three matchups since the start of the new snooker season.
With the world No.4 unbelievably having to forfeit his clash against Hammad Miah in the Xi’an Grand Prix after getting STUCK IN TRAFFIC.
Allen even seemed to hit out at Brecel’s time management amid his rant about the 2023 champion.
He added: “You have to question why he’s travelling on the same day he’s playing. I know he’s done it a few times but it’s not for me at all.
“If you’re going to turn up for a match you need to prepare properly. That’s not good enough, for me.”
Brecel’s life away from the table is certainly not what most would expect of a professional snooker player.
The star has a mega car collection and has been known to hang out with Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard.
Brecel paid £250,000, half of his World Champs earnings, on a stunning red Ferrari 488.
Before he then dropped £111,000 on a Porsche Taycan GT for his doting girlfriend Laura.
And to top it off, the snooker star forked out £80,000 for a Range Rover Sport.
However, despite spending £441k of his £500k on cars, Brecel admitted he rarely even gets behind the wheel.
He previously said: “I got a couple of cars with my winnings. I got a Ferrari and a couple of others.
“Just to enjoy myself. I don’t really drive it that often.
“I’m not really home that often. So it’s not really a big thing, but yeah, I did it. And I think I deserved it maybe.
“To be honest, I live quite a simple life, apart from the cars maybe.
“I just love being at home when I have the chance to be at home. Walk the dog, watch a bit of television, play a few games.
“A pretty basic life to be honest. It maybe doesn’t look like that, but it is.”
Games became more than a hobby for Brecel earlier this year too when he took part on Belgian TV game show Blokken.
The star, who has a reported net worth of £4.5million, competed for grand prize of just £850 on the long-running show.
AFPBrecel is known for his love of cars and has previously splashed his prize money on the passion[/caption]
Instagram @lauraav.bBrecel hangs out with Arsenal superstar Leandro Trossard[/caption]