Hossein Vafaei Ayouri of Iran arrived for the IBSF World snooker championship here with stars in his eyes and dreams of finishing on top of the World. The 17-year-old did just that with a nerve-wracking 10-9 thriller in the best-of-19-frame final over Lee Walker of Wales on Saturday.
Ayouri began at his usual blistering speed, giving his aggressive instincts free rein, racing to a 7-3 lead at the end of the first session. The Welshman came back strongly to catch up at 9-all. Ayouri won the pulsating finish on the black, potting it with the kind of composure seldom seen in a 17-year-old.
Tough customer
With frame scores 1-1, Ayouri took his potting to a different level and raced to a 4-1 lead. Just when it looked like turning into a one-sided affair Walker pulled two frames back before going into the break at 3-7.
The long break (90 minutes) gave Walker time to analyse and alter his strategy. Ayouri's potting went awry and he missed some shots that he would have pocketed with his eyes shut.
“Yes, I thought I had the match and title in my hands,” admitted Ayouri, through an interpreter after the triumph. “My inexperience showed,” the Iranian said.
With a series of small and useful breaks, Walker broke Ayouri's rhythm, to go to 7-8. Ayouri fouled a red in the 16th but Lee just could not capitalise on the offering and the Iranian won 71-43.
The shrewd tactician that he is, Walker slowed down the game. In the 18th Ayouri seemed to have controlled his nerves as he led 52-32 before missing out on a difficult green. Walker did not need another chance and cleared the table to win 57-52 and level at 9-9.
In the decider, Walker looked almost set to seal the match bridging a 0-44 deficit and taking a 52-45 lead, but he flunked on the pink. Ayouri, who was off his seat in a flash, potted the pink and then the black to a thunderous ovation.
Saleh Mohammed of Afghanistan was awarded a special prize for the highest break of 142.
The result: Final (best of 19 frames): Hossein Vafaei Ayouri (IRI) bt Lee Walker (Wales) 10-9 (81-30, 5-121, 72-0, 103-8, 76-49, 5-83, 62-59, 74-15, 0-92, 66-9, 53-75, 73-24, 5-123, 14-80, 46-80, 73-43, 39-79, 52-57, 58-52).
