Iran’s Hossein Vafaei achieved a historic victory at the 2026 World Snooker Championship by becoming the first qualifier to defeat a seeded player. Vafaei overwhelmed China’s Si Jiahui with a score of 10-3, securing his place in the tournament’s next round.
Match Highlights
During the match, Si Jiahui, a semi-finalist in the previous year’s championship, initially took a lead of 3-1. However, the 31-year-old Vafaei, currently ranked 32nd globally, showcased his remarkable skills by winning nine consecutive frames. Key breaks included:
- Break of 105
- Break of 81
- Break of 78
- Break of 68
- Break of 61
- Break of 53
In the concluding frames, Si managed to score only 64 points, highlighting Vafaei’s dominance.
Upcoming Challenge
Next, Vafaei is set to face world number one Judd Trump, who is the 2019 World Champion. Vafaei expressed his admiration for Trump, stating, “He is one of my friends and a nice guy on and off the table. He is the world number one, so it’s the best match.”
Vafaei acknowledged the support from his home country, indicating that his fans are eager for him to excel in this high-stakes tournament.
Respect for Opponents
While reflecting on his match against Si Jiahui, Vafaei showed great respect for his opponent. “Si is one of the best players China has, and he is a tough opponent for me,” he noted. “I respect his game, and I’m one of his fans; he is such a great player.”
