Williams and Higgins give their takes on Vafaei vs O’Sullivan feud

Vafaei and O’Sullivan meet in the second round at the Crucible, starting on Friday, in their first match since the Iranian claimed the Rocket should retire because he is bad for snooker 12 months ago.

That animosity appeared to have died down, but O’Sullivan mentioned the comments after he beat Pang Junxu in round one and Vafaei has not held back since.

‘I think Ronnie O’Sullivan is such a legend, such a good player when he’s on the table,’ Vafaei told the BBC after downing Ding Junhui in his opening game. ‘I think he’s such a nice person when he’s sleeping, he’s just such a nice person when he’s asleep, you know what I mean.’

On O’Sullivan being ill on the opening weekend, Vafaei added: ‘He always finds an excuse for himself, he’s been like that for 30 years.’

Williams is not convinced it is a sensible move from the Prince of Persia, with O’Sullivan himself saying that he ‘gets off on’ criticism from his rivals.

‘Why would you want to wake up the beast?’ Williams asked. ‘If I was him I’d probably keep my mouth shut and try to beat him rather than say stuff to rile him up, because he’s only going to want to beat you even more.

‘I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to keep your mouth shut.’

Asked if Williams himself had ever felt disrespected, he said: ‘Maybe once about 20 odd years ago I was playing O’Sullivan and he started clearing up the colours. He kept his hand on the cloth playing four or five balls, played a couple of shots one-handed, but it’s 20-odd years ago so I worry about it any more. (It bothered me) for about two minutes.

‘I’ve probably riled everyone up on the circuit at one stage or the other, including the officials I should imagine, but if I have done it it’s not been nastily.

‘It’s up to him what he wants to do. I wouldn’t be having a go at Luca [Brecel] before I’m playing him next. I’m just going to try and do my talking on the table.’

John Higgins is a fan of the trash talking between the Prince of Persia and the Rocket, saying it is a boost for the tournament and the sport.

‘It’s brilliant for the game,’ said the Wizard of Wishaw. ‘The more people speak like this and get rivalries and grudge matches, it’s brilliant for the game because it’s getting column inches, it’s getting snooker spoken about, which is brilliant.’

But asked if Vafaei’s decision to speak out makes his match with O’Sullivan even more difficult, Higgins said: ‘Of course it will, he’s playing the world champion.

‘But the way Hossein played against Ding, I don’t think many players would have lived with him. It’ll be a fascinating game.’

The last 16 contest is played over three sessions, on Friday afternoon, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

MORE : Hossein Vafaei stokes Ronnie O’Sullivan rivalry: ‘He’s a nice person when he’s sleeping’

MORE : ‘I get off on it’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan still ‘turned on’ by Hossein Vafaei criticism

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