World Snooker Championship 2024: David Gilbert dethrones Luca Brecel with dramatic comeback win

David Gilbert came back from the brink of elimination, claiming the final four consecutive frames to eliminate reigning champion Luca Brecel 10-9 on a dramatic opening day at the 2024 World Snooker Championship.

A maiden winner of the blue riband title in Sheffield 12 months ago, Brecel becomes the latest victim of the ‘Crucible Curse’ and is only the 10th defending champion to lose their opening match at the fabled venue.

As is tradition for the title holder, Brecel took to the stage on day one of 17 in Yorkshire. The Belgian got off to a flying start with breaks of 91 and a 134 total clearance, but former semi-finalist Gilbert claimed the next two frames to draw level.

Following a mid-session interval, momentum swung back to the 29-year-old Brecel as runs of 73 and 104 helped him move three clear for the first time at 5-2 up. Gilbert - who is a former ranking event champion - responded with an effort of 115 to reduce the gap, but Brecel took a protracted final frame of the session to re-establish a three frame buffer at 6-3.

In contrast to the overall fluency of the morning session, the evening act was a largely disjointed affair for the opening half of it. On resumption, Brecel - who missed frame ball pink a few moments earlier - ousted a dramatic frame ten on the final black after both players had broken down on breaks of 50.

With a gap of four frames between the players for the first time, Gilbert chalked up frame 11 and then frame 12 on the final black having seen his opponent waste chances getting it wrapped up.

Now only 7-5 ahead, there were early signs that the under-the-weather world champion was unravelling, but when Gilbert missed out on a glorious opportunity of reducing the deficit to just one - albeit with suspicion of a heavy contact when he failed potting an open red - Brecel compiled a 58 to help steady the ship going into the final break.

Following the interval, 42-year-old Gilbert made it 8-6, but when Brecel outrageously fluked a red in frame 15 whilst playing a hit and hope shot out of a snooker, he capitalised on the slice of very good fortune with a run of 85 to go on the hill at 9-6 up.

It looked like game over in frame 16 as Brecel carved out a 54 points advantage, but when he botched his opportunity to get it done, Gilbert cleared with a steely 65 counter to give himself hope.

Brecel got in first in the next, but when he perhaps forced the issue and missed a red, the underdog crafted an 81 break to go within just one of his opposite number.

In frame 18, a rallying Gilbert opened the scoring but received horrid luck when he went into the pack and inadvertently potted a red. With several balls now in the open, Brecel had another turn to finally complete the task, but he rattled a regulation green on a break of 46 and Gilbert pounced to construct a counter-attacking 53 clearance to pink and force an unlikely deciding frame.

Incredible drama on the opening night within the historic arena, Brecel went in-off when trying to escape from a snooker near the start of the final frame. Gilbert coolly fashioned a contribution of 65 to take control, although not enough to get over the line.

After a tense exchange, Gilbert sank another red and Brecel opted not to play on for penalty points as he came forward to warmly congratulate his conqueror, who had never led the tie up until that point.

Brecel’s exhausting defeat means he is the 22nd maiden Crucible champion to lose his crown the following year.

Speaking to Eurosport following his thrilling comeback, Gilbert said “I’m over the moon. The state of my game literally four, five weeks ago, I pulled out of China ‘cos I just couldn’t face it.”

The Tamworth cueist will meet either Robert Milkins or Pang Junxu in the last 16 next week.