Luca Brecel could be facing disciplinary action after an extraordinary early concession in his season-opening match, where the Belgian potted just seven points before walking away from the table.
The 2023 world champion, nicknamed the “Belgian Bullet,” stunned spectators at a Xi’an Grand Prix qualifier in Leicester when he abandoned play against Thailand’s Sunny Akani.
Brecel, 30, was already 2-0 down in the best-of-nine contest and trailing 40-1 in the third frame when he suddenly rose from his chair, shook Akani’s hand, and then exited after also greeting the referee.
His decision effectively gifted Akani a 5-0 walkover and immediately ended his hopes of featuring in the main draw of the October event in China.
Luca Brecel raised eyebrows with his decision to forfeit his snooker match
|PA
It was Brecel’s first appearance of the new campaign and snooker officials are understood to be reviewing the incident, with the possibility of a fine or sanction looming unless the Belgian can justify his withdrawal.
Brecel later took to Instagram to explain his actions, citing equipment troubles as the key reason behind his abrupt concession.
“I started the match with a fighting mentality,” he wrote.
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“But soon realised that there was no feeling in that piece of wood at all.
"I was using a borrowed cue from a colleague, and it just wasn’t working.
"The feeling in my arm has been incredibly good the last few weeks… nothing can be done about it at all, but we keep on going.”
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Drama on the table! 😳
— I ❤️ Snooker (@ILoveSnooker_) September 2, 2025
Luca Brecel concedes at 2-0 down, trailing by 40 in frame 3. Just as Sunny Akani lines up an easy blue, Brecel gets up and shakes his hand. pic.twitter.com/gr10GGeOtu
The world No 41 has been struggling to find form and motivation since his World Championship triumph in Sheffield last year.
While he once embodied the promise of a new snooker generation, Brecel has slipped down the rankings and already withdrawn from several key events this season, including the Championship League, the Saudi Arabia Masters, and the Wuhan Open qualifiers, citing medical reasons.
Away from the table, he has spent much of the summer in Belgium enjoying time with his girlfriend, cycling, and indulging in fine dining.
This lifestyle shift has sparked speculation that his passion for the sport may be waning, with some insiders fearing his long-term future on the Tour could be at risk if results and commitment continue to slide.
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Luca Brecel's passion for snooker has been called into question
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Snooker does have precedent for punishing players who walk out mid-match.
In 2006, Ronnie O’Sullivan shocked fans by conceding a UK Championship tie against Stephen Hendry midway through play, later admitting he had been struggling with mental health problems at the time. The Rocket was fined more than £20,000 for the incident.