Strolling out to Notorious B.I.G.’s Hypnotize for his matches, Hossein Vafaei looks right at home on snooker’s biggest stage. 

It’s been a long time coming. 

For years, diplomatic red tape stalled his career, but he’s now making up for lost time at the age of 31. 

At the 2026 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, England, he became the first Iranian to reach the quarterfinals of the sport’s top tournament, stunning world No.1 Judd Trump along the way before bowing out on Wednesday. 

“I wasn’t nervous, I enjoyed every moment. I was born for these kinds of situations,” he said. 

“I’m looking forward to playing anyone, I’m not scared of anyone and all of them know that. There’s no pressure, so why should I be worried?” 

While that confidence is a new addition, his ability was never in question. 

From child prodigy to visa limbo 

As a kid growing up in south-western Iran, It’s unlikely Vafaei ever envisioned his future in Sheffield, the home of snooker. 

He certainly wouldn’t have guessed that the snooker world would start referring to him as the “Prince of Persia”. 

He first picked up a cue as a six-year-old. By 17, he was crowned the youngest-ever World Amateur champion. 

That was in 2011, but the “Miracle Kid” was made to wait for his big break on the professional stage. 

Thanks to strained relations between Iran and the United Kingdom at the time, Vafaei spent four years in visa limbo. He was only able to make his first appearance in the UK in 2015. 

Despite losing those crucial formative years in his development as a pro, Vafaei always had high ambitions, and a sense of duty. 

“Snooker is very popular in Iran,” Vafaei told British newspaper The Independent back in 2017. 

“Success for me will make the profile of the sport become even bigger. I want to improve the game in my home country. It could be like China, if I can do well we could see many Iranians coming over here.” China has a number of top snooker players including three in the top ten of the men’s world rankings.

Playing for a nation in turmoil 

Vafaei’s pursuit of major titles has been further complicated by events beyond the snooker table. He admitted feeling “all over the place” ahead of the 2026 World Championship amid the war in Iran. 

Nationwide protests against the government in January, followed by the war with Israel and the United States, have weighed heavily on his mind. 

“It’s very tough to be an Iranian at this time. I don’t know [whether] to be happy. I don’t know [whether] to be sad,” he said after his win over Trump. 

“This is the only thing I can do. With my cue, I can do something for them to make [the Iranian people] happy. To show that the Iran flag is there.” 

Vafaei has previously used his platform to express solidarity with his compatriots, wearing a black armband at the 2022 UK Championship in solidarity with protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini’s death was one of the triggers of the Women, Life, Freedom movement. 

Yet he’s generally been cautious when talking about Iran publicly, with his family still living there. 

“You get a bad text in the day and you can’t focus on your job,” he said. 

“I was getting sometimes sad with what’s happening. And I don’t want to open up, but yes, I decided to fight, fight for my people, and all the Iranians all over the world. And hopefully I can make them happy.” 

Breakthrough finally arrives 

Vafaei only made his World Championship debut in 2022. That same year he won his first pro tournament at the Snooker Shoot Out. 

It’s taken time, but in 2026 he’s starting to find his feet, evidenced by his stunning run to the quarterfinals. 

“If he was from somewhere else and if he hadn’t had [visa issues] he would have been in the top 16 by now,” World No.1 Judd Trump said following his defeat to Vafaei. 

“I think he’s more than good enough to win all kinds of events.” 

His quest for success at the Crucible Theatre, which has hosted the World Championship since 1977, ultimately fell short at the hands of China’s up-and-coming star, Wu Yize. 

But this tournament felt like a shift in momentum for the Prince of Persia. He’s moved permanently to England’s north and has one focus. 

“I came to live in Sheffield to be beside the Crucible. And to imagine one day lifting the trophy,” he said. 

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“The Crucible trophy is living in my head rent free.” 

For years, circumstance dictated Vafaei’s trajectory. Now he’s taking back control of his own destiny. 

Edited by: Matt Pearson

A race fall at Kembla Grange means Tyler Schiller will have to secure medical clearance before tackling his rides at Wagga and Hawkesbury this week.

During the second race on Wednesday, Schiller rode Hawkes Racing’s Winters Kiss, a mare who was vying for the front and set to challenge right to the wire before something gave way inside 200 metres.

Efforts to steer her clear resulted in the jockey being thrown off and colliding heavily with the turf.

Despite rising quickly, he was barred from continuing his rides for safety reasons.

Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon, who wasn’t on site at Kembla, coordinated with the stewards there and noted Schiller dodged severe injury yet needs a doctor’s note to ride further.

“It was a heavy fall, and his head did make significant contact with the ground,” Moxon said.

“He was assessed by the ambulance officers, and he was cleared of any injury, including concussion. He wasn’t showing any signs of concussion.

“But he will need to provide a medical clearance before he can ride again.”

Ranking ninth among Sydney jockeys currently, Schiller has one ride lined up at Wyong Thursday and eight at the Wagga Cup meeting Friday, highlighted by Bianco Vilano in the top contest.

His weekend includes nine mounts in 10 races at the Hawkesbury standalone card Saturday, featuring Chris Waller’s Captain Furai in the Gold Cup (1600m) and Burma Star in the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).

Visit betting sites to check racing odds for Captain Furai in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

Junto Nakatani has assessed the lofty status of Naoya Inoue, who many consider to be a top two pound-for-pound star.

The pair will square off at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, with Inoue making the seventh defence of his four major super-bantamweight titles.

As a two-division undisputed champion, the 33-year-old sits alongside Oleksandr Usyk as the only two active fighters to have achieved such success.

Terence Crawford, of course, became a three-weight undisputed king by defeating Canelo Alvarez last September, but his subsequent retirement has meant that Usyk and Inoue now sit at the very top of the tree.

Hoping to prove his own greatness, meanwhile, is Nakatani, who made his super-bantamweight debut as a three-division world champion last December.

The 28-year-old secured a rather debatable unanimous decision victory against Sebastian Hernandez, before Inoue topped the bill with a one-sided unanimous verdict over David Picasso.

Even away from their last two performances, though, Nakatani recognises that Inoue sits above him in most people’s pound-for-pound rankings.

As a result, the Japanese southpaw has placed ‘The Monster’ at the very top of his list, while not even mentioning Usyk during his interview with DAZN.

Junto Nakatani reveals his Top 5 P4P list 👑

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Instead, Nakatani named Crawford – who, at this point, was still active – Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson and himself as the remaining entries on his top five pound-for-pound list.

Some might say that Dmitry Bivol, like Usyk, is unfortunate to have not been given a mention, though Nakatani would certainly merit his place on the list if he manages to dethrone Inoue next week.

It’s that time. It’s time to determine whether the Minnesota Vikings have the muscle to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and CBS Sports believes that answer is yes, at least in a “sleeper” capacity.

Minnesota has the roster infrastructure to turn a quarterback rebound into something larger.

According to Tyler Sullivan, the Vikings are one of the long-shot franchises that could spring up and upend the Super Bowl chase this season.

Murray Gives the Vikings a New Ceiling in 2026

The Vikings as a Super Bowl contender? We will take it.

Sullivan on MIN as an SB Dark Horse

In addition to the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Washington Commanders, Minnesota pulled down a mention from Sullivan as a fringe Super Bowl hopeful.

He wrote, “The Vikings’ biggest issue in 2025 was under center. Letting Sam Darnold — and even Daniel Jones — walk in favor of 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy proved to be a monumental mistake. In his first season as the full-time starter, McCarthy struggled with durability issues and poor play when he was on the field.”

“That was enough for Minnesota to fire general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and effectively pull the plug on the McCarthy era by signing Kyler Murray in free agency and re-signing veteran Carson Wentz. While head coach Kevin O’Connell has discussed a competition for the Week 1 job, Murray is clearly positioned as QB1 entering 2026, dramatically raising Minnesota’s ceiling.”

Murray will play in Minnesota on a $1.3 million contract. The Arizona Cardinals paid him to leave town.

Sullivan continued, “Outside of quarterback, Minnesota already has a roster capable of competing in the NFC, as evidenced by its 14-3 campaign in 2024 with Darnold. If O’Connell can get top-tier play out of Murray, the Vikings should immediately find themselves back in the thick of the NFC North race.”

“That was Minnesota’s most impactful move this offseason, but we’ll also keep an eye on what its rookie class can produce. Selecting Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks at No. 18 overall was a true roll of the dice.”

The Defense Is There

While the Vikings will hope that Murray can take the offense to new heights — he has the physical tools for it — the defense is already there.

In fact, during the last three seasons with the Cardinals, Arizona ranked 30th in the NFL per defensive EPA/Play. The defense next to Murray has been the league’s third-worst since 2023. On the other hand, Brian Flores’s defense in the same timeframe ranks second-best.

So, Murray goes from the league’s third-worst defense since 2023 to its second-best. That should matter.

Meanwhile, Flores’s group ranked third last year per DVOA and EPA/Play. Even if the unit regressed a few spots, it still should be in good shape.

So Are the Weapons

Murray didn’t suffer from a lack of weapons in Arizona; no one really claims that. However, he’ll get a fresh batch in Minnesota that might include more firepower, depending on the eye of the beholder.

In late April, the Vikings’ running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends look like this:

• Justin Jefferson
• Jordan Addison
• T.J. Hockenson
• Aaron Jones
• Jordan Mason
• Demond Claiborne

Too, the Vikings have expressed interest in free-agent wideout Jauan Jennings, who could sign with the club at any minute. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday night that Jennings was en route to the Twin Cities to discuss a possible contract.

For a Super Bowl push, the weapons are there.

It’s the QB, Silly

Ultimately, the entire Super Bowl dream will come down to Murray; that’s usually how it works at quarterback in the NFL. Last year, Minnesota produced the league’s fifth-worst quarterback performance per Dropback EPA and still finished the season with a winning record. O’Connell needs Murray to put him over the hump and stabilize the QB1 spot.

The Vikings don’t need Murray to play like a Top 5 quarterback to contend. Last season, Minnesota finished 9-8 despite the abysmal quarterback play; even decent production in several losses likely would have altered the outcomes. This highlights the team’s potential with improved QB performance — from Murray.

While Murray won’t be asked to be a game manager, good-enough quarterback play simply could be enough for the Vikings to make the playoffs; anything beyond that would be a bonus. For instance, a solid, efficient, and occasionally explosive Baker Mayfield-level season would likely suffice. The exciting part is that it’s realistic.

He’s a two-time Pro Bowler with undeniable talent, even if he doesn’t fit the mold of a typical tall quarterback. Arizona recognized his unique talent, drafting him first overall in 2019, just one year after selecting Josh Rosen in the 1st Round. Murray boasts impressive speed, ranks fifth all-time in NFL history for completion percentage, and can launch the ball 70 yards downfield.

Minnesota represents a true fresh start for Murray. Free from the “study clause,” general Cardinals drama, and heavy organizational baggage, he arrives at age 28 and is still in his physical prime.

Sullivan might be on to something.

A showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been agreed, providing ‘AJ’ is victorious in his July comeback. However, promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have provided different timelines for the long-awaited fight.

Fury made his ring return at the beginning of the month, outpointing Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov in a first win since 2023, before demanding a clash with perennial rival Joshua who was sitting at ringside.

‘AJ’ is yet to fight since a tragic car crash in Nigeria that took the lives of two close friends, but the former unified world champion has vowed to continue boxing and finally face ‘The Gypsy King’ after a ‘warm-up’ fight in the summer.

On Monday, it was revealed that the Londoner will face Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on Saturday, July 25, and that an agreement was in place for Joshua to take on Fury before the end of the year.

Speaking to The Punch Podcast, Joshua’s promoter Hearn declared plans for the event to take place in November.

“We will return in July, against Kristian Prenga, and then all being well we will fight Tyson Fury in November. It is all signed from our side, done.

“Fury has said that he has signed as well so, touch wood, we are finally going to get what is unquestionably the biggest fight in the history of British boxing and maybe even close to [the biggest ever] on the world scale, as well.”

However, in an interview with talkSPORT Boxing, Fury’s long-term promoter Warren stated that he expects the fight to happen ‘sometime in October’.

“It is signed. Tyson signed up for it months ago, we have been waiting for AJ and he has now done it. So, the fight will be on and it will be on sometime in October by the looks of it.”

As a result, it seems as though further details of the deal still need to be ironed out, including whether Fury will also have an additional ‘tune-up’ before the blockbuster bout.

The summer cannot come soon enough for Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho, who looks set to leave Old Trafford.

Louis Saha believes Jadon Sancho is the most disappointing signing in Manchester United’s history and says he must follow the example set by former teammate Marcus Rashford. Sancho is expected to leave United as a free agent in June when his current deal expires after an extremely disappointing and underwhelming stint at Old Trafford.

His five‑year spell at the club has seen him sent out on loan three times, and he is currently in and out of the Aston Villa side under Unai Emery. Sancho first caught the eye of United’s hierarchy during an impressive stint at Borussia Dortmund, where he produced the best football of his career across two spells with the Bundesliga club.

But he struggled to reach anything close to those levels after joining United for £73million in 2021. Speaking to BetVictor about Sancho’s career downfall, former Reds striker Louis Saha said: “I think Jadon Sancho is the most disappointing signing in Man United’s history.

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“That’s because of the level he had shown at Borussia Dortmund before joining, he showed so much promise because he is an enormous talent. It felt like a mystery. I’m not sure what happened but he didn’t get anywhere near his best and I think he needs a fresh start like Marcus Rashford.

“I was really privileged to be a football player and I was injured a lot and I wish I could have played the amount of games that Sancho has played at his age and with his talent. I would have really loved him to thrive at Old Trafford because he can do everything. He can do amazing things and so it’s a pity to see all those games wasted.”

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Rashford also saw his United career effectively end last year after a falling out with Ruben Amorim over being left out of the December Manchester derby. He left on loan for Villa in January, temporarily ending his two‑decade association with the club.

His spell at Villa Park offered flashes of the form he had struggled to show before his Old Trafford exit, earning him a season‑long loan to Barcelona, who hold a £26million option to make the move permanent.

In Catalonia, Rashford found a fresh start and began to enjoy his football again – and that is exactly what Sancho will be hoping to replicate this summer. The winger, who has been linked with a return to Dortmund, will be desperate to reignite his career.

However, a move back to the Signal Iduna Park would require a pay cut, with the German club unable to match the £250,000‑a‑week he earns in England.

Sancho was expected to play a major role in helping United challenge for major trophies but his move turned into a nightmare for all involved. At the start of the 2023/24 season, he was banished from first‑team training after a public fallout with former boss Erik ten Hag.

He eventually returned to Dortmund on loan in January and helping them reach the Champions League final but a permanent deal didn’t materialise. Despite clearing the air with Ten Hag, he was allowed to join Chelsea on a season‑long loan with an obligation to buy.

By the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Chelsea paid a termination fee to avoid signing him permanently and sent him back to M16, where he later joined Villa at the start of this season but he has also failed to make an impact there.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

There’s been increased attention on the New England Patriots following the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal. Vrabel was obligated to discuss the issue once multiple pictures emerged of the pair, and missed Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft in order to be with his family.

But Patriots players haven’t had much of a chance to give their thoughts on Vrabel’s situation. That changed once Vrabel returned to the team following his day off, and multiple players — including quarterback Drake Maye — showed immense support for the head coach.

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Maye spoke about Vrabel’s situation Wednesday, saying the team is “here for coach.”