World Snooker Championship:
Vafaei lets ‘animal come out’ to roar past Hawkins and progress
Iran’s Hossein Vafaei progressed to the last-16 round at the World Snooker Championship thanks to a hard-fought 10-9 victory over Englishman Barry Hawkins in Shefield’s Crucible Theatre.
The Iranian will face three-time world champion Mark Williams in the next round on Friday after the Welshman orchestrated a 10-8 victory over Wu Yize of China.
Vafaei had never been ahead in the entire first-round contest at the Crucible Theatre until the final frame.
The former world amateur champion trailed throughout his match against Hawkins but grew stronger as the contest went on and enjoyed runs of 104, 107 and 110 as he repeatedly drew level.
The Iranian world No. 24 had to come from behind on six occasions, including four times by a couple of frames to stun the 11th seed.
Already known as a feisty character on and off the baize, Vafaei shocked the Crucible crowd with a large outburst during the deciding frame.
He potted a red ball to reach a break of 50, and with the frame yet to be secured, the 30-year-old produced an unexpected “come on” roar.
The former Shoot Out champion still held his nerve together to make a 73 break and qualify for the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in his career.
“In the moment during the deciding frame, my mind went negative,” Vafaei, who compiled four century breaks, told the World Snooker Tour.
“I had to change something around. I needed to give something a go and let the animal come out again. It was a trick to my mind.
“I was under lots of pressure. All the way, I was down. What can I do? I’m always under pressure. I couldn’t handle it at the end.
“I had to show some emotion or I’m not human. I had to show to the fans that we feel the pressure. People want to see this.
“Beating the world number 11 in the Crucible with four centuries is the best performance I have had. The numbers don’t lie.
“I could easily have given up and not continued. I kept believing in myself that the game was there.”
Vafaei is a character who divides opinion, but he surely adds a different element to the action in Sheffield.