‘I ran outside’ – Vafaei calls time on Murphy after trip to pub forces midnight finish

ByEurosport

Updated 27/11/2023 at 08:59 GMT

Hossein Vafaei called last orders at the baize on Shaun Murphy after heading for the pub during the UK Championship as their match finished at midnight due to a fire alarm going off. The ‘Prince of Persia’ completed a 6-4 win to secure a meeting with Matthew Selt in the last 16. Stream top snooker action, including the UK Championship, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

‘I’m thunderstruck’ – Dale baffled by re-rack decision in Murphy v Vafaei match

Hossein Vafaei sounded the bell on Shaun Murphy at midnight in York after a trip to a local pub during their UK Championship clash on Sunday.

World No. 18 Vafaei and former UK winner Murphy were forced to evacuate the Barbican with the rest of the players, staff and fans after a fire alarm went off, holding up their first-round match up for an hour before the Iranian player completed a 6-4 win.

The duo took refuge in a local pub next to the venue to keep warm before returning to complete the match, with former Shoot Out winner Vafaei scrambling over the line in a contest that proved a real struggle for both players.

“To be honest with you, I will take that but I didn’t play really well,” Vafaei told reporters after producing breaks of 100, 78, 67, 59 and 54 to win four of the last six frames from 2-2.

“The most important thing for me is that I am still in the tournament, and I’m in the next round.

“The match went a little bit slow. I managed to win and got a century. I am quite happy.

“My body was going because the situation happened one hour before the match. Everyone got moved because of the fire alarm. It made us a little bit tired. In the end, I managed everything really well.

“I was in my dressing room, and I got told we had to go out because fire could come inside that room as well. I took my cue and I ran outside.

“We got moved to the pub, where it was warm and nice. Half an hour later, they came and told us we could go back because everything was fixed.”

Vafaei will meet Matthew Selt in the last 16 after the world No. 29 enjoyed a 6-3 win over German Masters champion Ali Carter that saw him produce breaks of 111, 102 and 73.

Former UK champion Judd Trump opens his campaign against Pang Junxu on Monday afternoon at 1pm as Barry Hawkins faces Ben Woollaston.

Two-time champion Mark Selby meets Mark Joyce with Jack Lisowski taking on Jamie Jones at 7pm in the evening session.

World No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan faces Anthony McGill on Tuesday.

Stream top snooker action, including the UK Championship, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Eurosport.co.uk – https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/uk-championship/2023-2024/uk-championship-snooker-hossein-vafaei-calls-time-on-shaun-murphy-after-fleeing-to-pub-during-match-_sto9898071/story.shtml