Iranian snooker star Hossein Vafaei left legends of the sport Steve Davis and Joe Perry in stitches after defeating Judd Trump in the second round of the World Championship. Vafaei cracked up the BBC’s pundits after suggesting he’d learned it’s better to ‘shut your mouth’ as he beamed throughout his post-match interview.
The 31-year-old edged past Trump 13-12 in the biggest shock of this year’s tournament at the Crucible. He sealed victory with a break of 91 to claim the win in a deciding frame to reach the quarter-finals for the first time after coming from 10-7 and 12-11 behind.
And Vafaei was in good form when he entered the BBC‘s studio in Sheffield to discuss his win. Asked if it was the biggest of his career, he said: “Exactly, against the world no.1 Judd Trump.
“He’s such a tough opponent. I respect him on and off the table. Today I played better than yesterday, and I was managing the game better than before.
“I’m not going to talk about it in front of these guys, it’s better to shut my mouth and listen to them,” he added prompting laughter from Davis and Perry.
The Prince of Persia has built a reputation for his high-scoring and his outspoken personality. On this occasion, he kept himself in check under difficult circumstances and impressed six-time champion Davis.
Asked about his thoughts during the final frame, Vafaei said: “I said if it’s my tournament, it’s going to happen. If there is a God, of course I believe in God, but I said ‘God please help me, where are you, Father? Please show me something!'”
“I’ve been working on it [his mentality],” he continued. “I’ve wanted to be calmer and relaxed to perform better. Before I was exciting and when I was going to match I was a completely different person. It’s better to sometimes shut your mouth and let the game come out.”
The latter comment prompted more laughter from the studio as Vafaei could not hide his smile. “In the long match format, it doesn’t matter if it’s four or five frames,” he said.
“When you get to the top 16, everyone is capable of going nine frames in a row. I don’t like to talk about.”
Trump was disappointed with how the final session transpired. “Yeah disappointing session tonight, apart from 11-10 down when I got going again,” he said.
“Had a great chance in the last frame as well, just run out of position straight away, just sums up my season really.”
But the world’s top-ranked player still offered his opponent a warm embrace and even some advice as he progresses to the quarter-final. Trump revealed what he told the Iranian.
“Just to believe in himself a little more,” he said. “I think he’s more than good enough to win all kinds of events, I think he just lacks a little bit of self-belief at times, maybe at the start of the game.”
Trump could lose his world ranking following his exit. If Australian rival Neil Robertson claims the title in Sheffield, he will overtake the 36-year-old.