Luca Brecel has turned himself into an 'Ironman' that he hopes can pave a way past Kyren Wilson at the Masters 2025 success.

The reigning 2023 World Snooker Champion saw off debutant Chris Wakelin to book his place in the last eight with a 6-3 win on Wednesday night at the Ally Pally. While the Belgian Bullet showcased flashes of brilliance, his performance also included some unexpected errors that made the match more challenging than expected before he secured a 6-3 victory. The competition has opened up after Ronnie O'Sullivan's shock decision to give it a miss.

Earlier in the year, Brecel revealed his ambitious goal of becoming the first-ever snooker player to complete an Ironman triathlon. The race, which Brecel hopes to tackle in 2026, involves a gruelling 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon. The Belgian star shared that he began his training six months ago and has already shed over two stone in weight.

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Following his win, Brecel spoke to SportsBoom about how his training is progressing and how he’s balancing it with his snooker commitments. He said: “Yeah, it's good. My days are quite full now. Everyone thought I was going to play less snooker, but actually I've played more since I started training for the Ironman. My coach, he sets up a schedule every week and I sort of just have to do it, so I know I'm doing the right thing. It's very good to take my mind off the game sometimes.”

The transformation is clear not just in his physique but also in his performances on the snooker table. This season he has reached the quarterfinals of the Scottish Open and made it to the final of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. When asked if he’s noticed a correlation between his physical training and his snooker form, Brecel was quick to acknowledge the impact.

“Yeah, a hundred percent. Obviously, I've lost some weight as well, so the clothes sort of fit better and that makes a big difference in my head,” he said. “I want to feel good on the table and I don't feel good when I'm overweight or not fit, things like this. Obviously, my stamina is getting better and it's always going to help in this game."

Brecel faces defending world champion Kyren Wilson in the quarter final on Friday.