'Unbelievable' – Hossein Vafaei secures Judd Trump Welsh Open snooker semi-final after 'tastiest' comeback win

Hossein Vafaei hit back from 4-1 behind to complete a rousing 5-4 win over Zhang Anda and secure a fascinating Welsh Open semi-final clash with fellow crowd-pleaser Judd Trump in Newport. Iran's leading player watched World No 105 Zhang compiled 108 and 67 to dominate the early stages of their quarter-final at Celtic Manor on Friday night before hitting back in style with knocks of 68, 58, 63 and 96 enough to secure his progress. Ad/> Welsh Open 2022 — Latest results, scores, schedule 'Nervy', panicky Trump happy to get over line against Robertson in Welsh Open /> Welsh Open'I was in trouble' — Perry on reaching Welsh Open semi-finals after dismal run11 HOURS AGO /> “It was unbelievable.

This is one of the tastiest comebacks I’ve ever had in my life,” Vafaei told reporters.. /> «As soon as I started this tournament I wasn’t showing good performances at all.» The Shoot Out winner is through to a fifth ranking event semi-final. He lost 6-0 to Neil Robertson in the 2019 Welsh Open semi-finals, but is clearly one of the in-form players on the circuit.

He has defeated former world champions Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby this season and is provisionally up from 21 to a career-high of 19 in the world. His last major semi-final appearance saw him lose 6-5 to Mark Williams – the player he defeated in the one-frame Shoot Out final in January – at the 2019 China Championship. «Whatever happens, I accept it as a challenge.

I am trying to enjoy it,» said Vafaei, who defeated Trump 4-2 in the last 32 of last year's Welsh Open after a 5-3 triumph over the 22-time ranking event winner in the 2017 China Open quarter-finals. /> «I am the kind of player that can win five or six frames in a row as soon as I get into rhythm. The Shoot Out