LEFT IN DUST
World Snooker champion spent winnings on flash cars but doesn’t even drive them
Lucky Luca hoping to break nightmare Crucible curse
LUCA BRECEL splashed nearly all of his World Snooker Championship prize money on cars.
But he admits he barely even drives them.
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Brecel, 29, stunned snooker when he dumped out Ronnie O'Sullivan and then clinched victory by seeing off Mark Selby in the 2023 final.
That saw him pocket a very tidy £500,000.
And part of his blockbuster celebration 12 months - which also included plenty of holidays, hanging out with Leandro Trossard, TV quiz shows and fancy dinners, followed by a mega diet - included dropping huge money on three new cars.
Brecel paid £250,000, half of his World Champs earnings, on a stunning red Ferrari 488.
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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 said: "I got a couple of cars with my winnings. I got a Ferrari and a couple of others.
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“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.
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“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.”
Brecel racked up 14 countries in four months after his world title win and played in lucrative exhibitions in the likes of Dubai, Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Curacao.
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And he was left starstruck when he met his music idol Game and could show him his arm tattoo of the American rapper.
For Luca and Laura, it has certainly been a whirlwind year to remember - off the table rather than on it.
Brecel - who is aiming to be the first new winner to their title in 45 years - added: "We’ve been to some amazing countries and had a great time. We really enjoyed it. Some of those trips involved exhibitions.
“It was a really nice year for me and I’m really lucky for that.
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“It’s funny because I didn’t have the best season but I feel like I could play well this year as well. I’m really looking forward to it.
“There has been no hunger this season. But I feel like I have got that back now since a couple of months. I’m really hungry – literally as well because I’m on a diet!”
Inside Luca Brecel's mad year since winning £500k
By Rob Maul
IF YOU became a world champion of your sport and pocketed £500,000 prize money, how exactly would you celebrate?
Maybe buy a nice car. Treat the missus. Go on a lavish holiday perhaps.
Well, Luca Brecel has done all of that and more – put simply, he’s had the time of his life over these past 12 months.
The Belgian Bullet was crowned King of Sheffield in May 2023 in remarkable fashion, despite no practice and having never won a match at the venue on previous visits.
Brecel immediately splash £250,000, half of his World Champs earnings, on a stunning red Ferrari 488 – which he admits he NEVER drives.
He has since lived the high life, exploring the globe with his girlfriend Laura, piling on the pounds with some fine dining and hangout out with an Arsenal star.
He even lost his Crucible-winning cue.
Click here to find out more about Brecel’s incredible year…
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