Naughty snooker versus Luca snooker: Trump and Brecel set for tasty Crucible quarter-final

World number one Trump - who has won this season's two other most lucrative ranking events at the Saudi Arabia Masters and UK Championship - defeated Shaun Murphy 13-10 in the last 16.

In that round two tie, 35-year-old Trump notched up his 100th century break of the season, a feat that saw him pocket a £100,000 seasonal bonus prize from the World Snooker Tour.

Against Zhou Yuelong in round one, Trump compiled five tons, equalling the record for the most centuries by one player at that stage of the blue riband competition at the Crucible.

Having come back from 5-1 down to defeat Ryan Day 10-7 in his opener, Brecel conjured up a sensational blitz of snooker early on in his second round test against Ding Junhui, a spell that helped him to an 11-frame winning streak, and eventually a crushing 13-4 victory over China's number one.

Those results set up a mouth-watering clash between Trump and Brecel - world champions in 2019 and 2023 respectively - in what will be their highest profile encounter, to date.

Given their profiles, somewhat bizarrely, these two have never met on the professional circuit in a final, nor a semi-final. Trump comfortably leads their overall career head-to-head record, but Brecel did win their only previous multi-session meeting at the 2022 Tour Championship.

The contest - between two of the most naturally gifted exponents in the sport right now - could be an explosive one if they both hit form, although 30-time ranking event champion Trump justifiably begins as favourite for the verdict.

After winning the sport's ultimate prize in Sheffield in rip-roaring fashion two years ago, Brecel has disappeared for long spells on the professional circuit.

Prior to this year's Championship, over the past two seasons, Brecel has reached just three ranking event quarter-finals, although he has had deeps runs at invitational tournaments, reaching the final of the 2023 Shanghai Masters, and both editions of the Riyadh Season Championship 'gold ball' competition in Saudi Arabia in 2024.

Projected to fall outside of the world's top 32 rankings following the conclusion of this event, Belgium's number one has shown signs of consistency on tour in recent months.

The 30-year-old made the last eight of the Scottish Open, and was runner-up to Mark Allen in the Middle East back in December.

At the Welsh Open - his last competitive outing before the Crucible - Brecel recorded his best finish on the top tier since his world title win when he reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open where he lost 6-3 to Mark Selby.

That was back in the middle of February, though, and having not qualified for any of the three Players Series events, and subsequently withdrawing from the World Open in Yushan, China, Brecel was two months without action.

McManus says Trump is the ultimate test for Brecel’s title credentials

Whilst talking as a pundit for TNT Sports during their coverage of the Championship, former Masters champion Alan McManus feels that Brecel would be the favourite for the title if he can navigate Trump across Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Scot said: “The ultimate test in someway - and Judd is the ultimate test for any player - but this is the test for Luca. I actually think about it now looking at the draw, if Luca beats Judd, I think he goes on to win the title.

“Because, who's going to stop him? I mean, he's dismantled Ding, if he gets the better of Judd, he's got to be favourite for the title, it's as simple as that.”

Before he struck a ball at this year’s Crucible, Brecel was aware of a potential quarter-final fixture with Trump by saying in an interview: “I relish the challenge of playing Judd in the third round. I've never played against him here at the Crucible. I think he's very tough to beat here… but we will see how it goes.”

Elsewhere in the bottom half of the draw is a ‘Class of 92’ derby between John Higgins and Mark Williams.

It means that every remaining player in the bottom half is a former Crucible champion, and they are the four highest seeds possible at this stage - Trump (number two seed), Higgins (number three), Williams (number six), Brecel (number seven).

Please visit our 2025 World Snooker Championship tournament information centre here for details on the draw, results, format and order of play.