Ronnie O’Sullivan v Hossein Vafaei live stream | World Open 2024 preview

Ronnie O’Sullivan locks horns with old rival Hossein Vafaei on Thursday for a place in the World Open quarter-finals.

It is just under a year since the notorious meeting at the World Championship following a war of words between the pair.

O’Sullivan let his cue do the talking with a comprehensive 13-2 rout, though the players buried the hatchet by sharing a warm embrace as they left the Crucible arena.

Their UK Championship semi-final in December was played in a much more amicable manner, with the Rocket once again prevailing 6-2 on his way to a record-extending eighth title.

That was the second of the world number one’s five trophies this season, along with the Shanghai Masters, Masters, World Grand Prix and the inaugural World Masters or Snooker.

O’Sullivan has continued in that vein so far this week with three centuries and a further five breaks over 50 in the 10 frames he has won.

After overcoming Michael White 5-3, the seven-time World champion put Lyu Haotian to the sword 5-2 – avenging his 5-1 defeat against the Chinese in the Wuhan Open quarter-finals earlier this season.

As for Vafaei – a semi-finalist at the UK Championship and British Open this term – he has already defeated a former Crucible king and a member of the top 16 in Yushan, reeling off four successive frames against both.

First, the Iranian beat Graeme Dott 5-1 before a 5-2 victory over Robert Milkins set up his reunion with O’Sullivan.

There is plenty riding on this event for the world number 21, who still has a chance of qualifying for the Tour Championship and climbing into the top 16 ahead of the World Championship.

The winner of this match will play either Shaun Murphy or Ding Junhui in the World Open quarter-finals.

Play gets under way at 6.30am GMT on Thursday and will be contested over the best of nine frames at the Yushan Sports Centre.

How to watch Ronnie O’Sullivan v Hossein Vafaei live stream

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