Luca Brecel shocked the world in 2023 by beating Mark Selby to realise his lifelong dream of becoming the World Snooker Champion.
However, it’s not unfair to say that things have spiralled in emphatic fashion ever since.
Brecel endured a rotten year the following season, failing to get past the quarter-final of any ranking event – and losing in the first round of the Masters.
Still, nobody will ever be able to take it away from Brecel that he spent a year being announced to arenas all over the world as the current champion.
Stephen Hendry was a winning machine in his prime and he knows all about the pride and joy of being a multiple world champion.
He’s offered some advice to Brecel following his pretty alarming year and the Belgian might be wise to listen to the seven-time champion of the world.
Stephen Hendry gives advice to Luca Brecel
The Bullet needs to find something to ensure that he doesn’t waste his potential and become a bit of a one-hit wonder when it comes to his world title win.
Brecel has won the Championship League and the Scottish Open before but his world crown is comfortably the biggest win of his career.
Hendry admits he’s a little bit disappointed with Brecel since his famous win and has given him some advice.
He told The Snooker Club podcast: “I just think he’s unbelievably talented, and I think it’d be a shame if he’s not going to give it a chance.
“Put five years in and see where it takes you. I’d hate to see him just drift away without doing anything else. He’s just too talented.”
Hendry is spot on and perhaps Brecel needs someone in his corner
The World Snooker Tour can be a very lonely place – as can professional snooker on the whole.
Lots of hours are lost playing on your own and being a master of your trade in snooker takes a lot of perseverance.
What Brecel has achieved in winning a world title will be the envy of many players but Hendry is right when he says he’s far too talented to waste his potential.
The Belgian must start to get back on track after his woeful year in 2023/24 and he has some bit tournaments coming up.
Lots of scrutiny is always placed on the world champion and perhaps the 29-year-old couldn’t quite handle the extra time in the spotlight.
What Brecel needs is someone – preferably with Hendry’s experience – to be in his corner remind him of his quality and massage his ego when it’s required.
The player is extremely likable and in our view, Hendry is right to suggest it would be a shame if he wasted his talent.