Was the cue ball in the D? 'Never seen before' foul causes stir in 'nightmare' Jimmy White v Hossein Vafaei clash

React to this story

Snooker referee Kevin Dabrowski had an eventful afternoon at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast as at the end of a bizarre epic between Jimmy White and Hossein Vafaei, he was the centre of a controversial moment. Dabrowski judged that Vafaei had committed a rare foul with the cue ball in hand, a decision that White eventually agreed with. Vafaei, though, had a different view on the matter.

‘Never seen that before!’ – Huge drama as referee makes ‘unbelievable’ call during Vafaei v White

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jimmy White commended referee Kevin Dabrowski for handling a "nightmare" match including a controversial foul that helped the Englishman seal victory over Hossein Vafaei.

With White one frame away from victory, and trailing 65-57, Dabrowski called a foul on Vafaei who had the cue ball in hand but was adjudged to have placed it marginally outside the D.

The referee and both players peered into a table-side camera to confirm the decision, which Dabrowski called "very obvious", despite Vafaei's protestations.

Snooker

White misses out on glamour meeting with Williams at Shenzhen Open

21/07/2026 at 10:31

After his victory, White initially said he thought the call was "close" but agreed with Dabrowski on further inspection.

"When we looked at it on the camera it was close, but I remember that happened to me in The Masters once.

"Well, there it looks like it's OK," said White on initial viewing.

'What drama!' - White wins battle for frame-deciding black against Vafaei

Video credit: TNT Sports

Then White was shown a freeze frame from an overhead camera and reminded that the cue ball is only 'in hand' if the line of the D covers half of the ball.

"Oh sorry, I thought it meant on the line," said White. "You're absolutely right, it looks a little bit right of the yellow spot. I thought it was over the line going up. I see what you're saying.

"He was adamant the referee. He had a bit of a nightmare today with the match, didn't he?

Dabrowski was tasked with respotting inumerable balls during the match, which lasted well over three hours, as well as retrieving White's chalk and allowing the 62-year-old a mid-frame toilet break.

"Then you've got a few people in the crowd who got a bit excited, but he did well. But yeah, there it looks slightly out," added White.

'Funny old afternoon' - Referee retrieves runaway chalk in bizarre White-Vafaei contest

Video credit: TNT Sports

The commentary team of Neal Foulds and Dave Hendon were not so convinced, with Foulds noting that he had "never seen that before".

"Well we're seeing it. I can't tell. It's got to be over the line I suppose, rather than on the line. It looked like it might have been in. But I'm not going to say either way," said Foulds.

Dabrowski was heard telling Vafaei by the camera: "I'm 100% certain. Hossein, would you like to take a look? It's very obvious."

"I don't think it's very obvious, one way or another," commented Foulds.

"It's on the yellow spot!" protested Vafaei.

"It's not Hossein. You can see on the video it's outside of the D. I'm 100% sure," responded Dabrowski.

Hendon concluded: "The referee's decision is final. He was there. We're looking at it on an overhead so I'm not going to say he was wrong. It would be unfair to do that and he gave it in good faith."

'Conclusive proof' - McManus explains why Vafaei call was correct

Video credit: TNT Sports

Alan McManus explained post-match why he believed Dabrowski made the correct call and clarified the laws regarding a ball in hand.

"It's on the player, that's the first thing to say. The player is responsible for putting the cue ball in the D properly," explained McManus.

"He is using both lines, the baulk line and the D-line; it must be inside both. This isn't football we're playing here; it's totally different. The cue ball can't be touching the line. So although it's touching it, it's more out than in and that's basically what the referee has to look at.

"But one more thing that I didn't know, the player in question can ask the referee when he places the cue ball, is the cue ball now in the D, or is it not? The referee is duty-bound. The referee must answer yes or no, as simple as that.

"So it clears that one up, I think. It means that Kevin Dabrowski, in my opinion, made the correct call. I think that's conclusive proof that it was a good decision.

"It was harsh on Hossein Vafaei, of course it was, but the referee was correct and it's down to the player to make sure he puts it in the D correctly."

Watch and stream the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

BetVictor English Open