Ronnie O’Sullivan rival says Crucible ‘SMELLS really bad’ in furious rant after World Snooker Championship exit
UNHAPPY Hossein Vafaei claims the Crucible stinks, it desperately needs a lick of paint and the practice rooms look like garages.
The Iranian potter, 29, was booted out of the first round of the World Snooker Championship following a 10-5 defeat to world No.2 Judd Trump.
There is great speculation that the tournament could be moved to either China or Saudi Arabia where there are greater riches on the table and players get VIP treatment.
The 980-seater Sheffield Theatre is contracted to host the flagship event until 2027 when it will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
But despite all the legacy, tradition and packed crowds, Vafaei delivered a fiery rant in opposition in which he feels the facilities are substandard and the place REEKS!
The Prince of Persia complained: “History is very important but when nobody invests any money in this historical venue. Let’s forget the history.
“You walk everywhere around the Crucible and it smells really bad. As a player I’m honest, it’s just really bad. Everything’s so bad.
“You go to other venues in other countries and you see how nice they treat you.
“How nice everything is. Everything is shiny. But here it’s completely different.
“If you ask me do I want to come back here again, I’ll tell you no way.
“The practice room, do you see anything special?
“I feel like I’m practicing in a garage. That’s not good. I’m coming from a different country to see that? It’s not good. I am sorry I have to tell the truth.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan, the seven-time world champion, told SunSport before the tournament that it should be moved to the Far East or Middle East when the current deal is up in three years’ time.
The Riyadh Season logo is prominently displayed on banners in the arena.
And only last week the Rocket has signed a multi-million pound deal to play in Saudi for the next three years, which locks him to professional play past his 50th birthday.
World No.19 Vafaei, who had to come through qualifying, added: “Look at the China venues, how they organise the tournament, it’s fantastic.
“How they treat the players, a red carpet and an opening ceremony, the players are treated like stars.
“But here no-one looks after the players, before and after the match no-one cares who you are.
“In China, everything is different. Saudi, too. I think it will be good for everyone.
“I understand that there are so many people working here that if the Crucible moves they will probably lose their jobs and this is sad as well.
“But if they don’t want to lose the Crucible invest some money, make it shinier, make it nicer, make it more luxurious for the people.
“If they make it cleaner and nicer, people will enjoy it. Why do we have to find a reason to move the Crucible?”
A World Snooker Tour spokesperson said: “The Crucible is a historic venue and there are limitations given the size of the backstage areas.
“We work with the Crucible to make it as welcoming as possible for players.”
Trump, who did not score a century in the match, is trying to add to his maiden success in South Yorkshire in 2019.
But this was a slow start and surprisingly there were no centuries from him in this last-32 contest.
Unusually there were no half century breaks from either player in the second session on Sunday afternoon.
Nonetheless, he remains on a collision course with world No.1 Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-finals, which would be a blockbuster occasion.
On the Crucible debate, he countered: “It’s difficult to dislike the place. It’s special to win it here. Any player who doesn’t win it here will have that regret.”
SHAUN MURPHY, the 2005 world champion, is 6-3 ahead of Chinese qualifier Lyu Haotian and finished the nine-frame session with a 111.
Welshman JAK JONES progressed into the second round as he beat No.11 seed Zhang Anda 10-4.