Iranian Hossein Vafaei became the first qualifier to topple a seeded opponent at the 2026 World Snooker Championship, dispatching China's Si Jiahui 10‑3. After trailing 1‑3, the 31‑year‑old surged with nine consecutive frames, compiling breaks of 81, 61, 60, 105, 53, 78 and 68.

Si, a 15th seed and 2023 semi‑finalist, entered the match with a 3‑1 lead but managed just 64 points across the final seven frames. Vafaei, ranked 32nd globally, turned the tide, limiting Si to a combined 64 points while he amassed over 500 points in the same span.

Next up, Vafaei faces defending champion and world number one Judd Trump. He described Trump as a friend and praised the support pouring in from Iran, saying fans hope he goes deep. A win would mark the first time a qualifier reaches the Crucible semi‑finals this year.

Vafaei’s breakthrough reshapes the early‑round landscape, proving that lower‑ranked players can challenge established seeds on the sport’s biggest stage. Should he overcome Trump, his run would inspire a surge of interest in snooker across Iran and could prompt the governing body to reconsider qualification structures.