World Snooker Championship:
Iran’s Vafaei crashes out after last-16 loss to Williams
Iran’s Hossein Vafaei missed out on a last-eight spot at the World Snooker Championship after suffering a 13-10 loss to three-time champion and world No. 6 Mark Williams in Shefield’s Crucible Theatre on Saturday.
Trailing 9-7 going into the concluding session, Vafaei had a golden opportunity to narrow the gap in frame 17 but missed the final brown to a center pocket leading 49-47, handing Williams the chance to pot brown, blue and pink for 10-7. Vafaei made a 70 clearance, from 52-1 down, to snatch the 18th and he led 57-26 in the next only for Williams to clear from the penultimate red for 11-8.
A run of 74 boosted Vafaei’s hopes of a recovery. Williams led 35-0 in the next when he missed a red to a top corner, and the Iranian made 72 to close within one.
Williams dominated the next for 12-10, and when Vafaei missed a red to a baulk corner early in the next, the 50-year-old Welshman wrapped it up superbly with 115 to become the oldest quarterfinalist in Crucible for 15 years.
“It was very tight and tense. Neither of us played at our best. We were both tired. I am disappointed with my performance because I gifted him many frames with my mistakes. I have to work more if I want this beautiful trophy. Mark will always be a tough opponent,” said the Iranian world No. 24, who had beaten Englishman Barry Hawkins 10-9 for place in the last 16.
Williams will face Scottish world number three John Higgins in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and Wednesday.