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Hossein Vafaei has ‘not disrespected Ronnie – but he has snooker’ says Steve Davis
Hossein Vafaei has 'not disrespected Ronnie - but he has snooker' says Steve Davis,Hossein Vafaei performed a controversial smash-and-hope break shot that disrespected snooker but not his opponent Ronnie O'Sullivan in the eyes of the sport's legend Steve Davis

Hossein Vafaei has ‘not disrespected Ronnie – but he has snooker’ says Steve Davis

Steve Davis reckons Hossein Vafaei has 'not disrespected Ronnie O'Sullivan – but he has snooker' with his controversial smash and hope break.

Bitter rivals Vafaei and Ronnie squared off in the second round of the World Snooker Championship on Friday afternoon. And Vafaei produced a moment of madness when he smashed the pack as he broke off at the start of the second frame, essentially gifting O'Sullivan the frame, who punished his foe with a break of 78.

It appeared to be a calculated move from the Iranian star as he was spotted smiling with what seemed to be his friend in the crowd after the bizarre move. Members of the audience were shocked by Vafaei's questionable antics, as was pundit Davis.

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And Davis thinks Vafaei has violated snooker with his divisive behaviour, but not his opponent O'Sullivan.

The snooker legend said during the BBC's coverage of the match: "It's not good to see. I don't think it's disrespectful to Ronnie O'Sullivan, but it is disrespectful to the game of snooker and the people who come along to watch, who want to see a great game.

Was Vafaei wrong for smashing the pack? Let us know in the comments section below

Davis was stunned by Vafaei's behaviour (Image: BBC)

"It's not nice and it's not good. It's not a personal game, snooker. Your problem is the table and the balls, not your opponent."

But Davis wasn't done yet and further slammed Vafaei who he insisted doesn't share the same characteristics as him. He raged: "Hossein Vafaei is not cut from the same lump of wood as me.

Hossein Vafaei's bizarre break appeared to be premeditated (Image: BBC Sport)

"I don't understand how can you smash up the balls in a world championship. I don't understand how you can then play great in the next frame. What type of brain can do that? To prove your point, whatever, but not in the world championship.

"I don't know where he is coming from. Bloody hell to win frame three, after embarrassing yourself, how can you concentrate?"

Vafaei's smash shot comes after he accused O'Sullivan of doing the same during their encounter back in 2021. The pair have a frosty relationship which was exemplified by their frosty fist bump before the match.

Pundit Jimmy White touched on their fraught bond when he explained: "Hossein thinks Ronnie has blanked him but he hasn’t, that’s just he [Ronnie] does, I think that might have affected Hossein."

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