Luca Brecel’s stunning World Snooker Championship final win over Mark Selby at the Crucible could herald an exciting new era for the sport.
Here the PA news agency takes a look at five leaders of the next generation who will be looking to follow in the Belgian’s footsteps.
Si Jiahui
Ben Mertens
Stan Moody
Stan Moody has won his first ever #CazooWorldChampionship match, beating Andres Petrov 10-7!
He’s 16.
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) April 3, 2023
Regarded as Britain’s best long-term prospect, the 16-year-old from Sowerby Bridge clinched a two-year tour card after winning the WSF World Junior Championship in Sydney this season. Moody, whose game has earned praise from stars including Jimmy White, made a memorable debut in Crucible qualifying by knocking in a century in a 10-7 win over Andres Petrov.
Pang Junxu
Julien Leclercq
? CHAMPION | Julien Leclercq has defeated Alex Clenshaw 5-2 to win the WPBSA #QTour Playoff!
The Belgian star earns a two-year place on the World Snooker Tour from the start of the 2022/23 season! ? pic.twitter.com/aPPQAYU2qT
— WPBSA (@WPBSAofficial) May 11, 2022
The 20-year-old Leclercq, who plays a similar game to Brecel, is the third Belgian player in the world’s top 100. He made a significant impact in 2023, winning six matches to reach the final of the Snooker Shoot-Out, and also making the second round of the Welsh Open after a fine win over former champion Jordan Brown.
