RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has crashed out of the World Open at the hands of nemesis Hossein Vafaei.
The Rocket missed a crucial black to win the match in the final frame as Vafaei sealed his place in the quarter-final.
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O’Sullivan found himself trailing 4-3 but hit back with a brilliant century to ensure the match went down to the final frame.
It was a tense affair as both players had turns at the tables to build breaks, but neither player built an unassailable lead.
A mis-shot from O’Sullivan when he was 27 ahead with 29 remaining meant he had to play safe before the pair exchanged snookers.
O’Sullivan then set up a chance to win the match after he pocketed a brilliant red, but then missed a much simpler black.
Vafaei was then presented with the opportunity to clear the table and he made no mistake, holding his nerve on the colours to seal victory but just a point.
It is a win which will feel even sweeter for Vafaei as he has been involved in a long-running feud with O’Sullivan.
They first clashed in 2021 Vafaei accused O’Sullivan of disrespect after he smashed up the reds with a break-off shot during qualifying for the German Masters.
O’Sullivan then provoked his opponent by suggesting Vafaei may be suited to a different job.
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The Iranian hit back by telling O’Sullivan to retire to allow younger players more opportunities.
Vafaei admitted he was “frustrated” by many of O’Sullivan’s behaviours, including the seven-time world champion labelling his colleagues “numpties” and suggesting he would not encourage his kids to take up the sport as for many playing snooker is “a waste of life”.
In typical O’Sullivan fashion he stoked the spat further by claiming he gets “turned on” when he receives criticism, and said he was “fired up” by Vafaei’s retirement comments.
It did not take long for the pair to butt heads again as Vafaei decided to reignite tensions with a “disrespectful” break off shot of his own, smashing up the reds during their World Snooker Championship tie last year.
O’Sullivan had the last laugh as he thrashed Vafaei 13-2, and the pair appeared to make amends as they hugged at the end before laughing and joking with one another.
The duo also embraced warmly in China despite O’Sullivan suffering a shock defeat against an opponent he was expected to beat.