Luca Brecel leads David Gilbert 6-3 in World Snooker Championship opener at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Luca Brecel, the reigning world champion, put on a stunning display at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield as he took a commanding 6-3 lead over David Gilbert at the end of the first session of the World Snooker Championship.

The Belgian star showcased his talent with two century breaks, scoring 134, 104, 91, and 73 to surge ahead 5-2 in a high-quality match. Gilbert managed a break of 115 in the eighth frame, but Brecel only needs four more frames to secure his spot in the last 16.

Brecel, who became the first player from Belgium to win the World Snooker Championship last year, is looking to break the ‘Crucible Curse’ by becoming the first first-time winner to retain his title the following year. With his impressive performance in the opening session, he is well on his way to achieving that feat.

On the other table, Wales’ Jak Jones leads 5-2 against China’s Zhang Anda, showcasing his skill with breaks of 71, 68, 71, and 75.

The action continues on Saturday with former world champion Judd Trump and England’s Ali Carter among those in action. Trump, aiming for his second title after his victory in 2019, will face Hossein Vafaei, while Carter takes on Stephen Maguire in what promises to be a tight encounter.

The evening session will see the conclusion of the Brecel v Gilbert match, as well as an exciting clash between Tom Ford and Ricky Walden. With all first-round matches being best of 19 frames, the competition is heating up as players battle it out for a spot in the next round. Stay tuned for more thrilling snooker action at the Crucible Theatre.