I’m the new Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins of snooker.. and I showed I can party like a legend too with 7am booze-ups
LUCA BRECEL loves being labelled as the next Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins.
And he can party like the late hellraiser, too, as he showed on his first night as world champion.
The Belgian battler plonked the famous silver trophy on his hotel bed in the hours following his 18-15 success over Mark Selby on Monday night.
His swashbuckling style of play won him millions of new fans during a barnstorming Crucible run that also banked him £500,000.
Baize promoter Barry Hearn welcomed Brecel on stage for the VIP after-party at the Mercure hotel in Sheffield by saying: “I saw a bit of Alex Higgins coming back into my world tonight…”
Two-time world champion Higgins — who died in 2010 aged 61 — cleared snooker balls without inhibition but off the table was notorious for his drinking, smoking, gambling and fighting.
Brecel, 28, does not get in the same trouble yet loves a good night out — he said he frequently partied until 7am and cut out the practice in the build-up to this tournament.
And Brecel ended up toasting this sensational maiden victory with his girlfriend Laura and family until 4am on Tuesday.
The Bullet said: “I saw a lot of people on the internet comparing me and my style to Alex Higgins and that’s amazing, it’s a huge compliment.
“That’s the way I want to play. I want to be entertaining.
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“Winning is not the most important thing.
“It’s great to see the crowds enjoying it and people loving it online as well. That’s the most important thing for me.
“I think that my style can have an impact on the way the game is played.
“It’s the style the people want to see. I don’t want to sound cocky but I think I’m a nice world champion because I play the game in a very attacking way.
“It’s not always going to work because I’ll miss shots and leave my opponent easy chances but if it works it’s fascinating to watch.
“To win it this year was amazing. It was the same as Joe Johnson in 1986 — having never won a match here and then winning the whole thing.
“It’s a dream come true and whatever happens now, I can say I’m a world champion.”
Four-time world champion Selby, 39, may have his detractors for his slow play on the table but as a man, he is top class.
This was evident at the post-final shindig when he asked the DJ to play Queen anthem We Are The Champions in honour of Brecel.
The pair hugged and posed for photos while enjoying a beer.
The Leicester Jester, who banked £200,000 as runner-up, even enjoyed a spot of karaoke with 1997 world champion Ken Doherty, giving their rendition of Sweet Caroline.
And Shaun Murphy, the 2005 Crucible king, ensured the party would go on until sunrise as he performed some tunes on the piano at 6am.