LONDON (Reuters) -Hossein Vafaei will play England’s 2019 winner Judd Trump in the opening round of the world snooker championship after becoming the first Iranian to qualify for the event at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
The 27-year-old beat China’s Lei Peifan 10-9 in Wednesday’s qualifying round with a decisive final frame securing his place among the 32 competing in snooker’s biggest event that starts on Saturday.
“I was so nervous today, all of my body was shaking. I didn’t know what to do. I was eating chocolate, a lot of sugar today, but it wasn’t working to be honest,” said the world number 18.
“Some days are like that. You forget how to hold the cue.
“I’m sorry I played so bad … but I promise I will play better on the bigger stage at the Crucible, I can’t wait to get there.”
Vafaei had led 4-1 but Lei fought back to 5-5 and the qualifier remained close until the last frame when the Chinese, 61-0 up, was two pots from victory but missed a simple red to a centre pocket.
Vafaei than made a clearance of 54 to secure the win.
“At 8-8 I was behind as well and I cleaned it up,” said Vafaei.
“I hope this will inspire more people back home and make them start playing snooker, and make it as big as I can.”
Australians Neil Robertson (2010), Ireland’s Ken Doherty (1997) and Canada’s Cliff Thorburn (1980) are the only non-British players to have won the world championship in the last 70 years.
Thursday’s draw also pitted England’s defending champion Mark Selby against qualifier Jamie Jones on Saturday, while world number one ‘Rocket’ Ronnie O’Sullivan opens against former semi-finalist David Gilbert.
O’Sullivan is chasing a seventh world crown in the championship that runs until May 2.
Gilbert had named O’Sullivan before the draw as one of four top players he particularly wanted to avoid in the opening round.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris and Toby Davis)
