Hossein Vafaei felt like he was playing against a PlayStation as he was beaten 13-8 by Wu Yize in the World Snooker Championship quarter-final on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old continues his brilliant rise towards the top of snooker, having won his first ranking title at the International Championship this season and playing at the Crucible as a seed for the first time this year.
The attack-minded Chinese star thrashed compatriot Lei Peifan 10-2 in the opening round before scoring a huge 13-11 win over four-time champion Mark Selby in the last 16.
Both Wu and Vafaei were playing in a Crucible quarter-final for the first time and it was the youngster who adapted to his surroundings better after a level opening session ended 4-4.
Vafaei won the ninth with a century, but then Wu reeled off five frames on the spin and went on to secure a comfortable victory, with a high break of 135 along the way.
The Iranian was stunned by the level the 22-year-old reached in the second two sessions, feeling there was little he could do against a computer game-level opponent.
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‘The guy was potting from everywhere. I lost four or five frames out of nowhere!’ Vafaei told the BBC. ‘That was from a shot to nothing, potting them and making 60-70 easily.
‘It was tough, a very tough opponent. I didn’t do much wrong, I think. My opponent was playing very well, it was like playing against a PlayStation.
‘Sometimes it’s tough, and you think, where should I put the cue ball? It was very tough. I didn’t play well at all in this match. First session I was a little bit tired, but my opponent played very well. Congrats to him. Whoever beats me like that, I have to clap for him.’
Wu was not particularly happy with his performance early in the match but felt he hit his stride later on, with his rhythm proving devastating.
‘The last session I finally found my rhythm, which I’m really happy about,’ he said. ‘The first session at 4-4 I talked to myself, why play like this? Then I talked to myself, I need to find my rhythm and I’m happy I pulled it out.
‘I’m really happy I can do that [make the semi-final]. It’s going to be my first time in the one-table session. I can do anything now.’
Wu now takes on Mark Allen in the semi-finals in Sheffield, with both players looking to make the Crucible final for the first time.
Allen downed Barry Hawkins 13-11 earlier on Wednesday, putting his feet up while Wu played two more sessions over Vafaei.
On the prospect of playing Wu in the semis, Allen said: ‘He’s going to be very dangerous I think he’ll relish the one-table set-up.’
The Pistol has a disappointing record at the Crucible, for a player who has been among the world’s best for years, but feels he can get his hands on the sport’s biggest prize on Monday.
‘I still haven’t been anywhere near my best but I’m in the semi-final. 95 per cent of the tour would snap your hand off for that,’ he said.
‘Maybe try to talk myself up a little bit which I’m not too keen on doing, but maybe I should because maybe there’s a lot more good snooker in there that I’m just not believing in.
‘I’m thinking about it [becoming world champion] because I come here every year thinking I can win it and it’s no different this year. It’s nearer because I’m in the semis but I’m only half way when it comes to frames won, there’s a long, long way to go, but I feel I’m the type of player if I can get on a run, four or five days in a row it gives me a good chance.’