Iran's Hossein Vafaei produced the biggest shock of this year's World Snooker Championship by defeating world number one Judd Trump 13-12 in a final-frame decider on Monday. Trump, the 2019 champion, led 10-7 and 12-11, but Vafaei held his nerve to compile a break of 91 in the deciding frame and reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Vafaei received a standing ovation from the Crucible crowd and a warm handshake from Trump. 'He's such a tough opponent. I respect him on and off the table,' said Vafaei. 'Today I played better than yesterday. I said: "If it's my tournament, it's going to happen." I've been working on the mental side.'
In another dramatic match, John Higgins came from 9-4 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-12, ending O'Sullivan's bid for a record eighth world title. O'Sullivan twice led by five frames but lost six in a row across the final two sessions. Higgins fired three centuries on Monday before holding his nerve in a tense decider.
O'Sullivan admitted he had booked a flight home to Ireland for Monday morning, expecting to lose with a session to spare. 'I was realistic about my chances,' he said. 'I haven't been in any big matches for two years. I was really shocked that I was able to make a game of it.'
Higgins said the victory ranked among the best of his career. 'I'm just delighted I came to the party in the third session. The atmosphere was incredible,' he said. 'I felt like a rabbit in the headlights at times, but I managed to settle down.'
Meanwhile, Mark Selby criticised the table conditions after losing 13-11 to China's Wu Yize. 'I felt like the conditions were the worst I've experienced here at the world championship,' said the four-time champion.
