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Mark Selby, the three-times Masters champion, suffered an early exit as he misplaced 6-2 to the Iranian debutant Hossein Vafaei at Alexandra Palace on Sunday night.
Vafaei is just not on the planet high 16, who qualify mechanically, however took Zhao Xintong’s place within the draw after the Chinese language star turned considered one of 10 gamers suspended from the tour amid an investigation into match-fixing.
The Iranian made two centuries and additional breaks of 99, 52 and 65 to beat Selby for the third time in succession. In distinction, Selby’s highest break of the night was solely 49 as he suffered a 3rd first-round loss on the Masters within the final 4 years.
Vafaei is the primary Iranian to win a rating event, the primary to play on the Crucible and now the primary to play within the Masters.
“I can’t imagine it,” he advised Eurosport. “Am I asleep or awake? Actually, I can’t imagine it. He’s such a tricky opponent, he by no means provides up. He’s such a legend and it’s such a pleasure to share the desk with him.
“I’m so happy with myself to beat him once more. He’s one of many best ambassadors we’ve got so I’m so completely satisfied to do the hat-trick in opposition to him.”
Within the afternoon session there was one other shock with the defending champion, Neil Robertson, knocked out by Shaun Murphy, who held off a spirited fightback from the Australian to win 6-4.
Robertson received the opening body with a break of 73 however Murphy reeled off the following 5 in succession with contributions of 98, 53, 61 and 100, the century coming after Robertson had miscued horribly on the black.
Murphy had the prospect to wrap up victory in a 48-minute seventh body solely to overlook the inexperienced after an outstanding pot on the yellow with the remaining and that regarded set to be a turning level.
Robertson made a break of 84 to cut back his deficit and was then on target for a most break of 147 within the ninth body earlier than lacking a troublesome 14th purple into the yellow pocket. The left-hander had the prospect to drive a decider when Murphy broke down on 54 in body 10, however missed the blue into the center attempting to drive place on the ultimate purple and a relieved Murphy sealed a 6-4 win.
“I used to be as shocked as anybody to seek out myself 5-1 forward,” Murphy advised the BBC. “I performed properly however in fact in opposition to Neil you don’t anticipate to be in that place. I used to be pushed alongside by this nice crowd right here this afternoon. It’s nice to be again, I didn’t benefit from the final half an hour, however generally it’s been a superb season, my sport’s been trending in the correct path.”
Murphy will play both Kyren Wilson or Stuart Bingham within the quarter-finals.
Robertson revealed he had been affected by an “horrendous bout of flu” within the buildup to the match. “I’ve simply been in mattress actually for every week and a half and Mille [his wife] has accomplished amazingly properly, as a result of she’s had it as properly, to take care of the youngsters to permit me to get as a lot relaxation as attainable,” he advised Eurosport.
“I’ve been going to the membership and doing about 45 minutes’ [practice], about probably the most I can do … on lots of painkillers and was actually struggling on the market bodily. I’ve to thank the group, they form of gave me one thing, particularly within the 147 try. I simply wished to someway make a most after which be completely satisfied even with shedding.”
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