World Snooker Championship LIVE: Latest scores and results as Ronnie O’Sullivan leads grudge match

Ronnie O’Sullivan returns to the baize at the World Snooker Championship on Friday afternoon as he begins a grudge match against Hossein Vafaei at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Vafaei added plenty of spice to their second-round encounter during the build-up with a series of outspoken comments about seven-time champion O’Sullivan.

The Iranian star hurled verbal barbs at his former friend following his first-round win over Ding Junhui last weekend, accusing the 47-year-old of “disrespect” following an incident in 2021 German Masters qualifying, and adding: “He’s such a nice guy when he’s asleep.”

Opinions are split over whether Vafaei, ranked 23 in the world, made a wise choice in prodding O’Sullivan ahead of their best-of-25, three-day clash that is scheduled to conclude on Sunday morning.

Follow all the action from O’Sullivan’s clash with Vafaei in our blog below:

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei updates

The World Snooker Championship continues at the Crucible on Friday

Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on the outspoken Hossein Vafaei in a grudge match

Vafaei hurled a number of verbal barbs at O’Sullivan during the build-up to the second-round clash

Latest score: Ronnie O’Sullivan 2 (25) 1 Hossein Vafaei

Latest score: Mark Allen 6 (25) 3 Stuart Bingham

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-1 Hossein Vafaei

15:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That is, conversely, a telling error from Vafaei, striking the wrong red on his way through to a pot. O’Sullivan up and running with the bunch Jackson Pollocked across the baize.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-1 Hossein Vafaei

15:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Behind the wall, Mark Allen has extended his lead to three frames (6-3) against Stuart Bingham, a solid 53 helping him take the first frame after the resumption.

Some slight sloppiness from both Ronnie O’Sullivan and Hossein Vafaei at the start of their fourth since the session start, but neither player is left with anything readily available to take on. Both turn down ambitious pots to play safe.

Story continues

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-1 Hossein Vafaei

15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A difficult pink poses O’Sullivan problems – the colours are cleared to that point but he can’t quite direct his screw to strike it.

And that’s a loose safety, leaving a thin cut to the top left corner that Vafaei is more than happy to convert. A first frame for the Iranian, who tosses his cue on the table as he disappears for a comfort break.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

15:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’s the Hossein Vafaei we want to see. He’s a wonderfully natural potter, and much too good to be overly concerned with the histrionics that he showed with that second frame break off. There are two reds left before he even really has to think, caressing in the penultimate one and then taking the black to leave a double on the last…

No dice! A valiant effort from Vafaei but he’s only 33 ahead with 35 remaining. A chance for O’Sullivan…who immediately pounces.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

15:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No quick conversion this time, though – O’Sullivan gets stuck in the scarlet throng, white ball caught on the bottom of a group of three reds and thus ending his efforts at 30. 31-0 his lead.

And that’s one heck of a pot, Vafaei sending a red from coast to coast up into the green pocket. Sparkling stuff from the Iranian, who you feel now really needs to get himself into this match.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

15:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Stephen Henry is worried about Vafaei’s approach so far, suggesting that the Iranian needs to settle. The Scot says on commentary: “I hoe for his sake he concentrates on this match and tries to play his best game,” just before the 28-year-old misses another long red.

O’Sullivan capitalises from the rest.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

15:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ronnie O’Sullivan tongue pops out like a moray eel, the Englishman frustrated after his cue ball hits an obstacle as it clambers back up towards the lower value colours. There’s no potting angle on the black – just a single point and back to his seat he goes.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No further addition to the scores at the start of the session as Mark Allen and Stuart Bingham feel their way back around the baize – it remains 5-3 on the other table.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“It’s not nice, it’s not good,” Steve Davis says of Hossein Vafaei’s decision to play that curious break-off. “It’s not a personal game, snooker – your problem is the table and the balls, not your opponent.”

“Without your composure, you lose everything,” warns Shaun Murphy.

O’Sullivan opts for a more conventional starting shot, leaving nothing for Vafaei to take on.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And just like that, it’s 2-0. A gift-wrapped frame for Ronnie O’Sullivan, who makes 78 again to secure it.

(PA Wire)

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Of course, O’Sullivan managed to pot a ball on that occasion – no such luck for Vafaei here and he’s given his opponent the simplest of entries into the frame. O’Sullivan quickly climbs to 38.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hello! That’s novel from Hossein Vafaei, taking a page out of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s book and thumping into the bunch in a moment of chaotic dispersion. You may recall that O’Sullivan did that during Vafaei’s German Masters thrashing. Hmm.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An ominous start from O’Sullivan. His break is curtailed at 78 as the blue stays out of the green pocket – but the first frame is his.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

O’Sullivan strokes in four of five exposed reds before opting to open them up, playing off the black with plenty of screw to bother the bottom of the bunch. It’s not the most comprehensive split, so he’ll have to go in again…

Has he left himself on anything? An out-of-character error from the seven-time champion, not leaving a red in obvious potting position.

But that’s a superb salvage, a red hurtling into the yellow pocket to keep the break alive. Up to 46 now.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Vafaei has another scoring opportunity but can’t find the corner, allowing O’Sullivan to open his account and move in front by knocking the black in.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’s unfortunate for Vafaei, a horribly heavy contact on the black to end his break before it had even began. 1-0, and O’Sullivan plays safe up to baulk.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Vafaei wastes no time, settling down to take on a long red to the left corner, but not finding the right angle.

He’s not left anything obvious, but O’Sullivan spots a plant at the bottom of the bunch. Off goes the cue ball…caught in the jaws! Vafaei has a gap through and opens the scoring.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Hossein Vafaei

14:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle

We’ll have updates from the continuation of Bingham-Allen throughout the afternoon, but our focus is, of course, primarily on the first frames of this hotly anticipated second round tie.

O’Sullivan to break – we are up and running at the Crucible.

Out come the players

14:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Warm welcomes for both Stuart Bingham and Mark Allen as they step out of the Crucible wings. Hossein Vafaei is loving this – there’s a cheeky grin on his face as he plays to the crowd a little.

Plenty of noise for Vafaei – plenty more for Ronnie O’Sullivan. It’s lively, that’s for certain.

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei

14:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The players are readying themselves in the corridor outside of the arena. Hossein Vafaei appears to chuckle as Ronnie O’Sullivan wanders past him – was there a word or two from O’Sullivan as he went? Vafaei pats the bottom of his cue on the floor.

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei

14:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Right, here we go – a fourth ever meeting between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Hossein Vafaei. The Englishman leads the head-to-head 2-1 – but that sole Vafaei victory at the German Masters really was something. This is already the deepest the Iranian has ever been at the World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei

14:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

21 April is a special date in the career of Ronnie O’Sullivan – it’s now 26 years since he did this at the Crucible…

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei

14:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The winner of this afternoon’s featured match will take on either Luca Brecel or Mark Williams in the quarter-finals – it’s certainly a tasty top of the draw.

But if Ronnie O’Sullivan is anywhere near top form, a record eighth world title will surely be his. Ahead of the tournament, Lawrence Ostlere explained why the sport needs his chaotic genius more than ever.

Snooker needs Ronnie O’Sullivan’s chaotic genius more than ever

World Snooker Championship

13:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The morning’s other match saw Welshman Jak Jones surge into a surprise 3-0 advantage over Neil Robertson, though the Australian southpaw has come roaring back and the pair ended the session level at four apiece.

The methodical Jones is making his Crucible debut and stunned Ali Carter in the first round, and has a good record against Robertson. That could well go the distance.

Luca Brecel takes narrow lead over Mark Williams

13:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But we have already had some action on the baize today, with Mark Williams and Luca Brecel’s second round match bubbling away rather nicely. The two players have predictably entertained in an even encounter, with the Belgian 9-7 ahead and already with three centuries in the match. That resumes later tonight.

World Snooker Championship

13:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There’s still a little while before the action gets underway at the Crucible this afternoon. The other match in this session is a battle between two former Masters winners, with Mark Allen currently 5-3 up on Stuart Bingham.

Ronnie O’Sullivan responds to Hossein Vafaei’s comments

13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ronnie O’Sullivan responded to Hossein Vafaei’s comments yesterday in an in interview with Eurosport: “I don’t know what to say, really, other than I wish every snooker player well.

“I know that everyone on the circuit works really hard, sometimes on the circuit for 10-20 years, they don’t get many rewards, and when they do, it is nice.

“We are all on this circuit together and you can’t begrudge any good results so I hold no hard feelings for anyone because obviously it is a tough gig and we are all here just trying to do our best.

“So I don’t take it personally. I think I’m kind of used to that, I had it as a junior growing up, I had it as an amateur, I had it as an early-season pro, and you still continue to get it.

“It has kind of followed me around my whole career really, but it is what it is, you know? You just have to play your game and just do your job.

“I think maybe I am a bit of an easy target because if I do an interview about my own game or whatever, obviously they will pick something out and there will be a headline. If I’m not playing, then generally they will ask other players what they think about what I’ve said, and the interview is about them talking about me.

“So I can’t win, really – do you know what I mean? The press is always going to find a question to ask someone. Some people are going to have stronger opinions than others so they are going to voice those opinions. It just is what it is.”

Mark Williams fears Hossein Vafaei’s comments could prompt reaction from Ronnie O’Sullivan

13:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Snooker would certainly seem to lend itself to a bit of mindgames, but you do wonder if Hossein Vafaei has quite thought this gambit through. Ronnie O’Sullivan has spoken previously about sometimes needing a little bit of extra motivation to play at his best – and at his best, very, very few can live with the seven-time world champion.

Mark Williams wonders if Vafaei might have made a major error…

Mark Williams questions merit of Hossein Vafaei rant against Ronnie O’Sullivan

Hossein Vafaei aims jab at Ronnie O’Sullivan ahead of second round meeting

13:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“Ronnie was my hero,” said Vafaei, who became the first Iranian to qualify for the Crucible in 2022, earlier this week.

“I could never see myself beating him. When I beat him 5-0 I was a little bit sad, but on another side happy because I showed I can play. He will remember that, 100 per cent. Play like a man. Don’t play mind games or smash the balls and disrespect me when 70 or 80 million people are watching me in Iran. Now he’s my opponent. This is life.

“I believe that everything happens for a reason, you can’t run away. If you do something bad to the people and break someone else’s heart, then God will give you an opportunity to get revenge.”

Hossein Vafaei (pictured) has stoked up his rivalry with second-round opponent Ronnie O’Sullivan (PA Wire)

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei

13:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hossein Vafaei is set to discover whether he will be made to pay for his outspoken comments about seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan when the pair start their second-round match in the World Snooker Championship this afternoon.

Vafaei hurled verbal barbs at his former friend following his first-round win over Ding Junhui last weekend, accusing the 47-year-old of “disrespect” following an incident in 2021 German Masters qualifying, and adding: “He’s such a nice guy when he’s asleep.”

Opinions are split over whether the Iranian, ranked 23 in the world, made a wise choice in prodding O’Sullivan ahead of their best-of-25, three-day clash that is scheduled to conclude over the weekend.

Ronnie O’Sullivan set for feisty match with World Championship rival Hossein Vafaei

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Hossein Vafaei

13:22 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

This afternoon sees the most eagerly-anticipated match of the championship so far get underway as seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on the outspoken Hossein Vafaei in the second round.

Vafaei made plenty of headlines during the build-up by calling out O’Sullivan and there will be no love lost between the pair on the baize.

Stick with us for all the latest updates