World Championship 2025: Mark Williams and Hossein Vafaei agree to third re-rack after epic ball replacement by referee Marcel Eckardt

Hossein Vafaei and Mark Williams were locked in battle after the opening session of their second-round contest, and it proved tough to break their deadlock at 4-4 as three re-racks were called to start the session at the Crucible on Friday evening. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Mark Williams and Hossein Vafaei tested the patience of themselves, the spectators and referee Marcel Eckardt after going through three re-racks to begin the second session of their match.

The first two were fairly swift, but the third came after 27 minutes of play in their second-round clash at the World Championship on Friday.

Before the third re-rack was called, Eckardt was made to work overtime as a hit-and-hope safety from Williams missed its target and crashed into the pink, sending balls all round the table.

Snooker

O'Sullivan backs 'best player in the world' Williams to be last man standing from Class of 92

07/12/2025 at 18:10

To Vafaei’s chagrin, no balls were obviously pottable and the camera swiftly panned to Eckardt, who knew what was coming next.

"Marcel, what have you done to deserve this?" asked Dave Hendon on commentary for TNT Sports when Vafaei said he wanted the balls replaced. "We've had two re-racks and now this, it’s not going to be an early night."

With the help of his marker Leo Scullion, Eckardt took five minutes and 14 seconds to get the balls in place.

Williams launched at the balls again, this time making contact with reds - and Vafaei was left with his head in his hands as his opponent somehow left it safe.

"That’s why they call it hit and hope," Hendon said. "As you hit and you hope.

"Vafaei could not even look."

• High drama as Higgins sees frame snatched away as white drops after potting black
• 'Could not feel my arms' - Allen admits £25k fan bonus was on his mind during historic 147

Vafaei has head in his hands after Williams' hit-and-hope escape leaves him in trouble

Video credit: TNT Sports

A passage of safety followed and with a stalemate looming, the players agreed on a third re-rack.

"Wow, wow," Hendon said. "What have we done to deserve this?

"There were two re-racks before that, we had all that time putting the balls back, and none of it is going to count because this frame refuses to be played.

"We’ve been going the best part of 40 minutes, and we’ve not properly started the frame. But the crowd are enjoying it."

Hendon, viewed by many as the doyen of snooker, could not recall it happening before.

"A triple re-rack," he said. "There have been a lot of frames played down the years so I am sure it has happened before, but I can’t remember it."

- - -

Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

Masters

O'Sullivan handed Masters opener with Robertson in repeat of epic Saudi final

08/12/2025 at 06:31

UK Championship

Williams 'poor from start to finish' but rues 'unlucky' turning point in Pang defeat

03/12/2025 at 20:04