Luca Brecel has won his first ever world title after beating Mark Selby 18-15 in an enthralling World Championship finale at the Crucible.
Brecel, 28, was made to wait for his crowning moment, with Selby staging a superb fightback after his opponent moved to within two frames of victory. Selby won the final two frames of the first mini-session, including a century break adding to the 147 he rattled in on Sunday.
He rallied to pull the scores back to 16-15 after the final interval. But the Belgian, who won 11 successive frames to complete a rousing fightback against Si Jiahu in the semi-finals, finished the job to claim world honours for the first time in his career.
The Belgian bullet knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last eight, with the Rocket backing his opponent to go all the way and branding him the most exciting talent in the game.
"Probably the most talented snooker player I have ever seen,” seven-time champion O'Sullivan said. “I would love to go and see him win it just for snooker because that is how the game should be played. Phenomenal player, phenomenal talent and a lovely boy. I wish him all the best and I hope he goes on to win the tournament."
He looked on course to cruise to his maiden world title, but he was left slumped in his chair as Selby mounted a wonderful response to cut his lead to just one frame. But in the 32nd frame, Brecel broke his resistance to leave him on the verge of glory and finished up in style with a century break.
Brecel's triumph means he is just the fourth non-British player to win the world title in the modern era. John Virgo, the 1979 world champion, said after Brecel's big win: "The future of snooker is in safe hands with the likes of Luca Brecel, he is the new world snooker champion."
Selbey also paid tribute to Brecel, telling BBC Sport after the final frame: "Congratulations to Luca, he's a great talent and a great lad, a great family. Enjoy the year, you deserve it mate, you played fantastic.
"It was great to make a 147 at the Crucible, never though I would do it in a final, the atmosphere was amazing and something I will remember for rest of my life. But it's not about me today, Luca played fantastic.
"Every time he potted a ball I fancied him to clear up but I battled - but every credit to Luca he deserves it."
An emotional Brecel admitted it was hard to put his emotions into words. The tearful champions said: “It is amazing, I can hardly see for the tears. Mark is so tough – the worst opponent to have in a final.
“He just keeps coming back and at 16-15 I didn’t fancy my chances. But just getting to 17 made me feel I could do it again, and that I could clear up given a chance.
“Snooker is a tough sport. I had lost five first-round matches and that could have happened again this year, I only beat Ricky Walden 10-9.
“I can’t wait to see what this brings for snooker in Belgium, Europe and the rest of the world. I have the best team, best family, best girlfriend, best friends and it makes you so strong. And I would just like to say to Mark and Vikki – stay strong.”
