Hossein Vafaei may regret Ronnie O'Sullivan trash talk at World Snooker Championship as big clash looms

It was not only the chap who jumped uninvited onto one of the tables the other night who has failed to keep his powder dry at the Crucible this week. Hossein Vafaei’s description of Ronnie O’Sullivan as «such a nice person – when he’s asleep» represents a new level of sass in snooker. Ad Played in smart dress suits amid polite surroundings, we are a genteel and respectful sport.

Or at least, we are in public. Behind the scenes the players moan about each other in ways that would have made the late Paul O’Grady’s alter ego Lily Savage blush. World ChampionshipO'Sullivan 'feeling better' after 'three days in house'AN HOUR AGO Many snooker players are friends but they are first and foremost rivals.

They generally respect each other but are quick to look for any perceived weaknesses in character and personality which may give them an edge on the table. All Vafaei has done is brought this into the public sphere. His problem is that it has the potential to massively backfire.

O’Sullivan himself knows all about this. At the 2002 World Championship he chose to let rip with a series of disrespectful remarks about Stephen Hendry on the eve of their semi-final, vowing to «him back to Scotland, back to his sad little life». Hendry, a man who needed little motivation at the best of times, beat him 17-13.

The laser-like stare he gave O’Sullivan at the end of the match could have melted steel. It was a lesson that trash talk has to be backed up. It is a lesson Vafaei may learn the hard way over three sessions this weekend.