Hossein Vafaei caused the biggest shock of the World Snooker Championship so far, defeating world number one Judd Trump 13-12 in a final-frame decider to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. Trump led 10-7 and 12-11, but the Iranian displayed nerves of steel with a break of 91 in the deciding frame. 'He's such a tough opponent. I respect him on and off the table,' said Vafaei, who received a standing ovation.
Ronnie O'Sullivan saw his quest for a record eighth Crucible title ended by John Higgins, who fought back from 9-4 down to win 13-12. Higgins fired three centuries in the final session, completing a memorable comeback. O'Sullivan admitted he had booked a flight home early, expecting to lose before the final session. 'I was realistic about my chances. I haven't been in any big matches for two years,' he said.
Higgins, who looked out of sorts early on, said the atmosphere was incredible. 'It's got to be up there with one of the best wins of my career. After the first two sessions, how I was only 9-7 behind, I'll never know.' The Scot took the decider after a tense battle, with both players missing opportunities before Higgins seized his chance.
Mark Selby also suffered a defeat, losing 13-11 to China's Wu Yize. Selby, a four-time world champion, criticised the playing conditions, calling them 'the worst I've experienced here at the world championship'. Despite his experience, he could not prevent Wu from advancing to the quarter-finals.
