Luka Bresel surprised the entire world of snooker and became the first world champion from continental Europe. After defeating Mark Selby in the grand final, the Belgian revealed how he prepared for the Crucible tournament and how he will spend the coming days.

Luca Bresel barely practiced and got “drunk to hell” in the Crucible

Bresel revealed that he barely trained for the Crucible and was “drunk as hell” between wins against Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan, which “shouldn’t be legal”.

“It’s been a crazy week. No training, just parties. It doesn’t have to be legal. I won’t be going to bed early, but it won’t be a wild night. Only a few beers.

But then it will be very quiet, to be honest. I’m exhausted. I think we have two or three months off (the new season starts on August 22), but this is exactly what you need after that.” – Luka Bresel for the BBC.

Luca Bresel doesn’t know how he managed to beat Mark Selby

“It is not real. As 16-10 got closer to 16-15, I felt like I was fighting for nothing. I didn’t really believe in victory anymore, I’ll tell you honestly, I was absolutely dead. I knew I needed a few chances, that I needed to pull myself together and calm down.

In the last shot, I was driving, I was driving. I had the ability to stay focused, try to find the best angle for each shot.

Being able to cross the finish line is incredibly liberating. Many things came to my mind. All those stories I’ve heard about myself over time, like I’m not good enough.

Mark is the worst opponent that could be in the final. He’s an incredible fighter, he doesn’t let you breathe, he’s after you regardless of the score. I don’t know how I managed to win this match.

If I lost this final, I would feel really bad for a long time. I usually don’t let defeats get to me, but the stakes and pressure were too high now.” – Luka Bresel for Eurosport.

Luca Bresel, snooker’s huge win in Europe: ‘It’s going to explode’

Bresel is only the fifth player from outside the UK to win the world championship and is confident his win will change European snooker.

“I was very excited because I wanted to achieve this for Belgium and Europe. It will explode (there is no snooker in Europe). It will happen, I can’t wait to see what this win will bring to the world.

Who would have thought that this moment would come right now. I’m only 28 and I still have so much time in my career. It’s unreal and I know the next few weeks are going to feel like a dream.

I don’t know what will happen after I get home. I will probably appear on many shows and do many interviews. It’s going to be a crazy few weeks” – Luka Bresel for the BBC.

Luca Bresel will attend the showcase tournament two days after winning CM Snooker

Only two days after the most important success in his career, Luca Bresel will take part in a demonstration tour in Austria.

“I won the world title and in two days I will be at the Vienna Open to compete in this tournament. This is me, I love sitting at the snooker table, no matter where or what the stakes are.

I’m not one of those people who target certain tournaments, so I never thought I could become a world champion. Every tournament I played I tried to enjoy my time at the table.

To be a world champion is the greatest possible achievement, and I will not realize for a long time what I have achieved” – Luka Bresel for Eurosport.

Know:

• Luca Bresel will receive £500,000 for winning the grand final. On the other hand, Mark Selby will receive £200,000.

• Mark Selby will share the £55,000 bonus (the one awarded for the maximum break) with Kieren Wilson (he broke 147 in the first round of the Crucible).

• It was Mark Selby’s sixth WC snooker final. He lost the first (in 2007 to John Higgins), but made up for it in the next four: (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021).

• Luca Bresel beat Ricky Walden (World No. 24 / 10-9), Mark Williams (8 / 13-11), Ronnie O’Sullivan (1 / 13-10), Xi Jiahui (80 / 17) at CM Snooker 2023 -15) and Mark Selby (2 / 18-15).

• Luca Bresel is the first player from continental Europe to win the world title.

• In the entire history of the World Cup, only five champions were not from the Kingdom of Great Britain: Horace Lindrum (Australia, 1952), Cliff Thorburn (Canada, 1980), Ken Doherty (Ireland, 1997), Neil Robertson (Australia, 2010) and Luca Bresel (Belgium, 2023).

• In 2012, Luca Bresel became the youngest player to participate in the Crucible (17 years and 45 days).

• Bresel (28) did not win a main draw match at the Crucible in his first 5 appearances.

• The first World Cup was held in 1927, and since 1977 the tournament has been held at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield. The modern era of competition (something like the “Open Era” of tennis) began in 1969.

List of all Crucible champions

2023 – Luka Bresel

2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2021 – Mark Selby

2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2019 – Judd Trump

2018 – Mark Williams

2017 – Mark Selby

2016 – Mark Selby

2015 – Stuart Bingham

2014 – Mark Selby

2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2011 – John Higgins

2010 – Neil Robertson

2009 – John Higgins

2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2007 – John Higgins

2006 – Graham Dott

2005 – Sean Murphy

2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2003 – Mark Williams

2002 – Peter Ebdon

2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan

2000 – Mark Williams

1999 – Stephen Hendy

1998 – John Higgins

1997 – Ken Doherty

1996 – Stephen Hendry

1995 – Stephen Hendry

1994 – Stephen Hendry

1993 – Stephen Hendry

1992 – Stephen Hendry

1991 – John Parrott

1990 – Stephen Hendry

1989 – Steve Davis

1988 – Steve Davis

1987 – Steve Davis

1986 – Joe Johnson

1985 – Dennis Taylor

1984 – Steve Davis

1983 – Steve Davis

1982 – Alex Higgins

1981 – Steve Davis

1980 – Cliff Thorburn

1979 – Terry Griffiths

1978 – Ray Reardon

1977 – John Spencer.