Ronnie O'Sullivan says 'I'm an easy target' after astonishing Hossein Vafaei attack at World Championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan has given his response to Hossein Vafaei ahead of their eagerly-anticipated last-16 showdown at the World Snooker Championship amid the latest instalment of their ongoing spat. After winning his first-round match at The Crucible, Vafaei told Eurosport's Rachel Casey he wants to «shut» O'Sullivan's mouth in what represented an astonishing broadside after setting up their second-round encounter in Sheffield.

Ad O'Sullivan and Vafaei have a long-standing prickly relationship after Vafaei memorably told O'Sullivan to retire for being «disrespectful» ahead of the 2022 World Championship, and claimed the seven-time world champion was «not good for the game», questioning «what has he done for the sport?» World ChampionshipWorld Championship — Latest scores, results, schedule, order of play3 HOURS AGO O'Sullivan appeared to be relishing the prospect of a showdown with Vafaei after his first-round win at the Crucible as he warned him, «don't rattle my cage», in an interview on Eurosport, and has now responded after Vafaei's latest blistering comments. Asked what he made of Vafaei's attack, O'Sullivan told Eurosport: «I don't know, it is more other people have been telling me what was said.

I don't know what to say, really, other than I wish every snooker player well. »I know that everyone on the circuit works really hard, sometimes on the circuit for 10-20 years, they don't get many rewards, and when they do, it is nice.

«We are all on this circuit together and you can't begrudge any good results so I hold no hard feelings for anyone because obviously it is a tough gig and we are all here just trying to do our best. »So I don't take it personally.