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

The Metro says Hossein Vafaei has set-up a blockbuster clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan at the World Snooker Championship and spiced it up as well as possible by aiming digs at the Rocket beforehand.

The Iranian played brilliantly to beat Ding Junhui 10-6 in his opening contest at the Crucible and that books his place alongside the defending champion in the last 16.

It will be the first time they have played since Vafaei memorably said O’Sullivan should retire because he is bad for snooker ahead of last year’s World Championship.

Any beef seemed to have cooled since then, but apparently it has been warmed through thoroughly before they clash in Sheffield on Friday.