In the 2018 Northern Ireland Open, Brecel lost in the last 16 to the eventual tournament winner Judd Trump. He also reached the last 16 in the 2019 Snooker Shoot Out and the semi-finals of the non-ranking 2018 Six-red World Championship and the China Open. In the 2019 World Snooker Championship, he lost 10–9 in the first round to Gary Wilson, with the deciding frame lasting a record 79 minutes and 31 seconds. He finished this season with the same ranking (15) as he had at the start of it.