LUCA BRECEL faces possible sanction after conceding his season-opening snooker match after two completed frames and having potted just SEVEN points.
The former world champion was 2-0 down to Sunny Akani in a qualifier on Tuesday in Leicester for the chance to play abroad at the Xi’an Grand Prix.
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The Thai cueist was 40-1 up in frame three and working out the best shot at the table when Brecel, 30, inexplicably rose from his chair and shook his hand.
After a brief conversation off mic with a bemused Akani, the Belgian Bullet shook the referee’s hand and then walked away, handing an automatic 5-0 win to his opponent.
This match, over the best of nine frames, was his first appearance of the new season but he has missed out on a spot in the main draw in the October event in China.
Snooker chiefs are not impressed with his actions and it is understood the incident is under review.
There is the chance he could face a hefty fine for walking out of the contest, unless perhaps he can provide some form of mitigating reason.
In an Instagram post, Brecel claimed he was using a “borrowed cue from a colleague” and then said: “I started the match with a fighting mentality.
“But soon realised that there was no feeling in that piece of wood at all.
“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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Maverick Brecel, down to 41 in the world rankings, has spent the summer in his homeland, riding bikes with his girlfriend and eating in top-notch restaurants.
It appears his passion for snooker has waned and there are fears over his long-term future in the game, especially if he ends up losing his Tour Card.
In 2025-26, he has already withdrawn from the Championship League and the Saudi Arabia Masters, for medical reasons, and then did not turn up for the Wuhan Open qualifiers.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was fined more than £20,000 when he infamously walked out of a UK Championship clash in 2006 against a shocked Stephen Hendry.
The Rocket, 49, later apologised for his actions – this was during a time in his life when he was struggling with depression and mental health issues.
