Overview
- Hossein Vafaei secured a fifth straight Crucible appearance by defeating Gao Yang 10-4 in the final round of qualifying.
- He opens against China's Si Jiahui in the first round, with the winner scheduled to face world number one Judd Trump in the last 16.
- He says constant updates about the conflict in Iran have made it hard to concentrate, though he reports his family is safe.
- A neck and shoulder issue forced a two to three month layoff earlier this season before intensive physiotherapy eased the pain and restored his grip.
- He has reached the World Championship last 16 in 2023 and 2025 and hit the World Open quarter-finals last month, pointing to improving form.