Ronnie O’Sullivan rival labelled ‘pathetic’ after refusing to shake Mark Williams’ hand as Grand Prix crowd boo
HOSSEIN VAFAEI was booed after storming out for the Morningside Arena following his World Grand Prix defeat by Mark Williams.
Before he darted off the Iranian refused to shake Williams’ hand and the Welshman labelled Ronnie O’Sullivan’s rival “pathetic”.
After a comfortable 4-1 victory against Vafaei, 29, in Leicester, Williams, 48, continues into the quarter-finals of the Grand Prix.
Vafaei remarkably got his maths wrong in the second frame, believing he only needed to pot one ball to take the round and failed to play for a position on the black.
This led Williams to snub the frame which assisted his victory but it was quickly spoiled when his rival fled the arena, causing boos from the crowd.
William then called the Iranian “pathetic”, adding that he was surprised as he “always got on” with Vafaei.
However, Vafaei was irritated by Williams’ who slapped his leg in annoyance after missing a pink at the end of the fifth frame.
The Welshman explained after that he did so because he thought Vafaei would return to play for snooker.
But the Prince of Persia thought otherwise seeing it as disrespectful which forced him to storm out.
The Welsh Potting Machine said after the game: “I just pulled him up about it there and said, ‘What’s your problem?’ He said it was because I slapped my leg at the end when I won.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
“I slapped my leg at the end because I shouldn’t have gone for the pink.
“I should have played safe and I thought he would have come back to the table and carried on for snookers.
“That’s why I was a bit fuming, I shouldn’t have gone for the pink and I knew it and he just stormed up.
“He said that’s the reason, if that’s the reason, pfft, I don’t care anyway.”
Vafaei has been in a long-term spat with snooker legend O’Sullivan since he told The Rocket to retire ahead of the 2022 World Championship.
He said O’Sullivan should quit the sport following comments he thought were disrespectful.
Meanwhile, Williams will now face China’s Cao Yupeng in the next round, and a win there will see him into a semi-final clash against either Judd Trump or Mark Selby.