Iran’s Vafaei playing for more than snooker glory

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. 

“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