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<\/p>\nHossein Vafaei will play Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan in the semi-finals of the UK Snooker Championship <\/p>\n
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Hossein Vafaei has vowed there will be no repeat of his kamikaze Crucible break-off when he faces Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan in the semi-finals of the UK Snooker Championship in York on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Iranian sealed a rematch of the grudge clash that rocked last April\u2019s World Championship by beating China\u2019s Zhang Anda 6-4 while O\u2019Sullivan dredged up a break of 122 to sink qualifier Zhou Yuelong in a final-frame decider.<\/p>\n
Vafaei says he has no regrets about his wild start \u2013 where he smashed the balls from his first break-off and saw O\u2019Sullivan mop up a clinical 78 \u2013 at the Crucible, which was a response to perceived disrespect shown by O\u2019Sullivan when he played a similar shot in a match at the German Masters 18 months earlier.<\/p>\n
Despite also claiming pre-match that he wanted to \u201cshut\u201d O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s mouth and that the Englishman should retire because he was \u201cnot good for the game\u201d, the pair had exited the stage arm in arm after the underdog\u2019s 13-2 humbling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe past is the past,\u201d Vafaei insisted on Friday. \u201cI\u2019d been waiting 18 months to do that. I know it was a little bit crazy but I\u2019ve done it. Everything has karma.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I just want to respect my hero and have a good friendship with him. Life is too short. I wish him the best of health and I love him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vafaei, who has now racked up six centuries in the last two rounds, heads into their rematch as the form player after an unfocused O\u2019Sullivan almost let a 4-1 lead slip against the Chinese world number 26.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Sullivan, who had edged through in similar circumstances against Robert Milkins in the previous round, showed his frustration as he missed a succession of easy chances before delivering when it mattered, with a final frame clearance to pink of 122.<\/p>\n
The 47-year-old is also adamant he bears no ill will towards Vafaei, whom he considered a friend prior to the incident during German Masters qualifying which annoyed the Iranian.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t feel disrespected (by Vafaei\u2019s break-off) \u2013 not at all,\u201d said O\u2019Sullivan, whose quarter-final win was his 100th in the tournament since he first appeared as a 16-year-old in 1992.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve done worse \u2013 a lot worse. I like Hossein, he\u2019s a fiery character. He doesn\u2019t take no nonsense. That is his character. I like that in someone. He is his own person.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Sullivan looked set for an easy afternoon as Zhou, seemingly paralysed by nerves, looked a shadow of the player who had accounted for both Neil Robertson and John Higgins in previous rounds.<\/p>\n
The Chinese player also appeared intent on gifting O\u2019Sullivan the fourth before finally managing to get a frame on the board.<\/p>\n
But from a 4-1 advantage O\u2019Sullivan dramatically lost focused, missing a series of simple shots to allow Zhou to pull level twice, before he found just enough to keep his hopes of a record-breaking eighth UK title just about alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just waiting for something to happen and it did, and I played all right,\u201d said O\u2019Sullivan, who continues to play down his hopes of lifting the trophy on the 30th anniversary of his first success.<\/p>\n
I just couldn’t make 20, just missing balls all over the place, and he looked like he was gaining confidence. If I don’t find some form from somewhere I’m going to get beat here<\/p>\n
\u201cI just couldn\u2019t make 20, just missing balls all over the place, and he looked like he was gaining confidence. If I don\u2019t find some form from somewhere I\u2019m going to get beat here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vafaei was pushed almost to the limit in a high-quality clash with in-form Chinese player Zhang Anda, who had got the better of world champion Luca Brecel in the previous round.<\/p>\n
Twice Vafaei hauled back Zhang\u2019s early advantage by posting century breaks, then from 4-3 behind he summoned a big finish with consecutive breaks of 106 and 56 confirming the first triple crown semi-final of his career.<\/p>\n