Snooker star ridiculed for being "immature" in second spat after calling out Ronnie O'Sullivan

Snooker star ridiculed for being "immature" in second spat after calling out Ronnie O'Sullivan

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 18/01/2024

- 22:06

Hossein Vafaei has caused a stir at the snooker World Grand Prix after refusing to shake hands with Mark Williams.

Hossein Vafaei has been branded "immature" for not shaking Mark Williams' hand after his defeat at the World Grand Prix in Leicester.

Vafaei has been a divisive figure in snooker over the past few years, taking shots at Ronnie O'Sullivan in the past two World Championships.


He's now got himself involved in a row at the World Grand Prix with Mark Williams after walking off from their match and refusing to shake the Welshman's hand.

The Iranian snooker star stormed off after Williams slapped his own leg following his miss on the final ball of the game.

Hossein Vafaei snubbed a handshake with Mark Williams

Hossein Vafaei snubbed a handshake with Mark Williams

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Vafaei thought the gesture was disrespectful, although Williams insisted he slapped his leg out of frustration for trying to pot the pink.

Williams admitted to being furious with his opponent for storming off and confronted Vafaei after the match.

And Alan McManus believes Vafaei has no excuse for snubbing Williams after the match.

"It’s his own fault," McManus said on ITV.

"You shake the guy’s hand, I’ve been saying this for long enough.

"It’s the first thing I got taught when I went to group tuition as a kid, you shake your opponent’s hand. Period.

"Then it’s done and you move on. It’s a wee bit immature of him as a snooker player, in my opinion. Shake your opponent’s hand."

Stephen Hendry felt Vafaei had grown frustrated throughout the match, particularly after he misread the score in the second frame and allowed Williams to take a 2-0 lead.

And the seven-time world champion used Vafaei's falling out with O'Sullivan to try and give the Iranian snooker star some advice.

Hendry said: "The things is, he needs three snookers, Mark’s gone for the pink, slapped his thigh because he’s thought he shouldn’t have gone for that, could have just played safe.

"Hossein’s taken it as Mark’s already won the match and he’s pretending he’s annoyed at missing the pink and shouldn’t have done it.

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Hossein Vafaei has had history with Ronnie O'Sullivan too

Hossein Vafaei has had history with Ronnie O'Sullivan too

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"It was a bit silly from Hossein because the match was over. Frustrations had built all through the night."

He added: "We saw the thing with Ronnie O’Sullivan where he smashed the pack, he didn’t like that as well.

"Things are going to happen through a season, you’ve got to learn to let them go.

"He got booed as well! A pantomime villain off the table!"

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