‘It’ll be a good match if I play him’ -Ronnie O’Sullivan responds to Hossein Vafaei saying he should retire

Ronnie O’Sullivan did not seem at all fazed by Hossein Vafaei’s calls for him to retire, although did say: ‘It’ll be a good match if I play him.’

Vafaei made some remarkable comments after qualifying for the World Snooker Championship for the first time on Wednesday, saying the Rocket is not good for snooker and that it is time for him to retire.

‘A lot of things he says frustrates me. What kind of legend are you if you call people numpties?’ Vafaei told Metro.co.uk.

‘I was and am still good friends with him, but I don’t like that. Maybe he likes it and gives him a good feeling but I think people should treat him like that as well. I treat him like he deserves.

‘I don’t want to get involved in that kind of conversation really. I like him a lot, I am his fan, I love what he does but sometimes he’s disrespectful, he’s not good for the game.

‘I think he should retire, to be honest with you. He should retire and then the younger generation make the game bigger.’

The strong words from the Prince of Persia have not seemed to bother O’Sullivan, who is well aware that he has said more than a few controversial things over his great career.

The Rocket is certainly not fuming about the criticism, but he might just be a bit more fired up next time they meet on the table.

‘I can’t start criticising when people say something,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘Some of the things I’ve said over the years have been…I look back and laugh at them because some of them have been blinders.

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‘I can’t help but