Ronnie O’Sullivan's greatest World Snooker Championship grudge matches – 'From Mr Angry to The Torturer'

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been no stranger to some glorious grudge matches during 30 years as the headline act at the World Championship in Sheffield. And that is just how the snooker GOAT likes it ahead of his latest very public tête-à-tête at the sport's main table. Ad His best-of-25 frame second-round match with a vocal Hossein Vafaei on Friday, Saturday and Sunday seems ripe for repercussions with the pair content to continue exchanging verbal barbs after the Iranian player urged O'Sullivan to retire last year.

World ChampionshipWhite: Super-fit O'Sullivan could win 10 world titles18 HOURS AGO «Has he been saying much about me this year?,» said O'Sullivan, who completed a 10-7 win over Pang Junxu in the first round to get his quest for an eighth world title up and running. «I think he’s learned to be quiet. Don’t rattle my cage.

I love it when they call me out, I love it when they give me stick. I just love it. It turns me on.

I get off on it. »I need something to find so I’m hoping someone says something, and hopefully I get better so I can have a reason to perform." Step forth the 'Prince of Persia' to put his best foot forward as Vafaei focussed on O’Sullivan's remarks after a 10-6 win against 2016 finalist Ding Junhui in the first round. “The Crucible is going to be my home,” said the former Shoot Out winner.

“I have to play like that and show a performance like that to show the people and shut some people’s mouths. And to show them what I can do. “I was quiet and I was respecting him.

But I saw so many people sending some interview or something like that. «He is what he is. He is such a nice person when he is asleep.» The three-day collision at the Crucible will begin on Friday at 2:30pm live on Eurosport with two