Vafaei Advances to Last 16 at World Championship
Hossein Vafaei has reached the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship for the third time, having previously done so in 2023 and 2025.
Iran's Hossein Vafaei became the first qualifier to defeat a seeded player at the 2026 World Championship by overcoming China's Si Jiahui 10-3. This victory sets up a match against world number one Judd Trump.
Si, who was a semi-finalist in 2023, initially led 3-1. However, 31-year-old Vafaei, ranked 32nd globally, won nine consecutive frames. His performance included breaks of 81, 61, 60, 105, 53, 78, and 68.
During the last three frames of the first session on Wednesday and the four frames on Thursday, 15th seed Si scored a total of only 64 points, while Vafaei maintained an impressive display.
Vafaei will face 2019 champion Judd Trump next. Regarding the upcoming match, he said:
"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.
I'm getting a lot of support from back home and they would love me to do very good in this tournament.
Si is one of the best players China has so a tough opponent for me, I respect his game and I'm one of his fans, he is such a great player."
All of the opening 14 matches in the tournament were won by seeded players. Vafaei's win ensured that a clean sweep by seeded players would not occur.
Nevertheless, the record of 15 out of 16 seeds winning in the first round, which was set in 1983 and matched in 1993, could be equaled if fourth seed Neil Robertson defeats China's Pang Junxu.
The Australian, who won the world championship in 2010, currently holds a 5-4 lead in their match. This contest is scheduled to be played to a finish during Thursday's evening session starting at 19:00 BST.
- Watch: World Snooker Championship - Murphy cruises into lead; Vafaei beats Si
- Vafaei 'fighting to make Iranians proud' at Worlds
- World Championship 2026: Match schedule, BBC TV times & results
