In a dramatic opening night at the 2025 World Snooker Championship, Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins both faced early exits after narrow defeats. Robertson, the 2010 world champion, was edged out by Chris Wakelin, while Hawkins fell to Hossein Vafaei in a nail-biting finish.
The matches took place at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, where snooker fans were treated to a thrilling display of skill and resilience. Vafaei, ranked No. 24 in the world, triumphed over Hawkins with a final score of 10-9, marking a significant moment in his career as he battles through a painful shoulder injury.
Vafaei's journey to this point has not been easy. He revealed, "I went to the gym. I was angry and I went heavy. I went to do my shoulders, did it heavy to get all the negative out, and after two or three days I felt it in my neck. Then my shoulder. Then it made my left arm completely numb." Despite the pain and the doctor's orders to rest, Vafaei decided to compete, stating, "If I don’t compete then people will say lots of bad things. I have to finish my tournaments and after that, I’ll go to the Iran Olympic Committee. They have a doctor waiting for me for a long time now. They’ll decide what I have to do."
On the other table, Wakelin's match against Robertson was equally gripping. Wakelin stormed to a 7-2 lead after the first session, showcasing impressive breaks of 108, 70, 62, 52, and 54. However, Robertson, undeterred by the deficit, rallied back to level the match at 7-7 with five consecutive frames. Wakelin, demonstrating his composure under pressure, responded with a break of 90 to regain the lead. The match swung back and forth, with Robertson taking the next frame, but ultimately Wakelin secured his victory with a final score of 10-8.
Wakelin expressed his respect for Robertson, saying, "Neil played unbelievable to get back to 7-7, I didn’t expect him to roll over, he’s a true champion. I managed to fall over the line, but it’s really difficult out there. I’ve had an amazing season, but to do well here this week would be incredible." With this victory, Wakelin advances to face either Mark Allen or Fan Zhengyi in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Hawkins's match against Vafaei was a back-and-forth affair that saw neither player able to establish a dominant lead. After trailing 5-4 from the first session, Hawkins initially regained control, but Vafaei's back-to-back century breaks leveled the match at 6-6. Hawkins responded with an impressive break of 87, but Vafaei quickly matched him with another century, his fourth of the match, pushing the contest to a nail-biting final frame. In the end, Vafaei clinched the match with a decisive break of 73, marking a significant achievement for the Iranian player.
As the first round of the World Snooker Championship continues, other matches are also in progress. Jak Jones is set to resume his match against Zhao Xintong, trailing 2-7, while Xiao Guodong has already secured a 10-4 victory over Matthew Selt. Mark Allen leads 5-4 against Fan Zhengyi, with their match set to resume on Monday afternoon.
The excitement at the Crucible is palpable, with fans eager to see how the remaining matches unfold. Vafaei's next challenge will be against the legendary Mark Williams, who advanced after defeating Wu Yize 10-8 earlier on Sunday. Vafaei remarked on the significance of facing Williams, saying, "He is one of the greatest legends in our sport, I respect him a lot. It’s going to be a great match. It’s a good achievement for me."
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are high, and the competition fierce. Players are not only battling their opponents but also the pressure of the tournament and, for some like Vafaei, the pain of injuries. With thrilling matches expected in the days to come, the 2025 World Snooker Championship promises to deliver unforgettable moments for snooker fans around the world.
