Watch Hossein Vafaei mock Ronnie O’Sullivan’s accent live in BBC studio and savage snooker legend with sarcastic dig
TRASH-TALKING Hossein Vafaei has launched an explosive attack on “disrespectful” Ronnie O’Sullivan ahead of Friday’s Crucible Grudge Match.
The Iranian, 28, scored breaks of 117, 122 and 89 as he came from behind to beat Ding Junhui 10-6 for his first win at the World Snooker Championship.
BBC via TwitterHossein Vafaei has labelled Ronnie O’Sullivan as ‘disrespectful’[/caption]
PAHe is set to play O’Sullivan in the next round of the World Snooker Championship[/caption]
The Prince of Persia faces the seven-time world champion over three days in the second round but there is bad feeling on his part.
In an incredible post-match interview, Vafaei sensationally claimed:
+ God has given him the opportunity to get revenge for O’Sullivan’s behaviour in their last match on the baize.
+ The Rocket is “such a nice person when he is asleep” in a sarcastic dig.
+ The reigning world champion used to be his hero but not anymore.
Qualifier Vafaei – who mocked O‘Sullivan’s Essex accent live on BBC TV – thrashed the world No.1 5-0 in the German Masters qualifiers in October 2021.
But he was unhappy O’Sullivan broke off in the final frame like it was a game of pool having just returned from the interval.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Vafaei said: “Listen, Ronnie disrespected me before.
“God has given me an opportunity for revenge. I said that to God myself: ‘If you make that happen, I’ll do the same that he did to me.’
“That wasn’t nice at all. Play like a man. Don’t play mind games or something or smash the balls and disrespect me. Especially when 70-80 million people are watching me in Iran.”
Vafaei, who wagged his finger a la Dennis Taylor when he sank match ball on Monday, added: “I don’t have anything to fear. I don’t have anything to lose.
“My life was tough. There’s no pressure on me.
“I’m not scared of this guy. I’m going to stand in front of him 100%.
“If I beat my hero – well, he used to be my hero – then I’m going to be dangerous in this tournament.
“If he comes and beats me 13-0, I’ll wake up again and go practising, do eight hours a day, I don’t care.
“I respect him just in snooker. Outside of the snooker, he’s such a normal person for me. That is it.
“When you’re following someone too much like your hero, you want to learn from him. But I was learning the bad things more than good things.”
When he qualified for the Crucible for the first time a year ago, Vafaei said O’Sullivan should retire and let the younger generation grow snooker.
This riled up O’Sullivan, 47, who said on Eurosport on Saturday night: “Has he been saying much this year? Has he? Has he piped up or kept quiet?
“I think he’s learned to be quiet. Don’t rattle my cage!”
A clip of those comments was sent to Vafaei by his close friends ahead of his two-day match with Ding.
But Vafaei is happy the pair have started sledging each other – he feels it is GOOD for the game.
The former Shootout winner said: “I heard a few days ago he was talking something about me, ‘at least he has learned to be quiet’ or something like that.
“It doesn’t bother me. It’s just words.
“I think Ronnie O’Sullivan is a legend of this sport but he’s such a nice person when he’s asleep.
“The way he’s talking is very rough. It’s like he’s doing boxing not playing snooker.
“This is snooker, you have to use your brain to win!
“Look, I don’t want anything bad for him, I don’t want to wish him bad things.
“I wish him to win the Sports Personality of his country at least one time.
“But you have to think what he has done? Why he hasn’t won the Sports Personality of this country many times?
“It’s good in sport to talk like this or make something happen. Don’t be boring, say something about your opponent.
“People see that news and then think they’ll watch the snooker.”
