Hossein Vafaei says Iran conflict has made World Championship focus difficult

TEHRAN: Iranian snooker player Hossein Vafaei is set to begin his World Championship campaign later on Wednesday, but said the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has made it difficult to concentrate on the tournament.

The war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and later spread to Gulf countries and Lebanon, raising concerns about a global energy shock. An uneasy truce was in place and had been extended at the last moment on Tuesday by US President Donald Trump.

Vafaei, 31, is Iran’s first professional snooker player and has qualified for what will be his fifth appearance at the championship. He had managed to put aside concerns about his family in order to secure his place in the event.

Speaking to the BBC, Vafaei said the emotional strain he has been dealing with is difficult for others to understand.

"You get a bad text in the day and you can't focus on your job. How can I focus?", he said.

He added "No-one knows how tough it is but hopefully it will be over soon, then the safety comes back to my country".

Family safe amid conflict

Vafaei said his family had not been harmed during the war, which he described as extremely difficult to endure.

"It's been very hard, very, very hard. My family are safe", he said.

The Iranian player also said he sees his participation as carrying significance beyond sport.

"I'm fighting as well for my country, for my family and I'm trying my best and will give it my all."

Vafaei, who is known as the Persian Prince, comes from Abadan in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province near the Iraqi border. He is due to face China’s Si Jiahui, a semi-finalist in 2023.

Vafaei made history in 2022 by winning a world-ranking tournament. It also said he reached the last 16 at the World Championship in 2023 and 2025.

Hopes to lift spirits back home

Vafaei said people in Iran would be following his match and that he hoped his performance could offer some encouragement during a difficult period.

"If I do well, if they can see me -- of course, some of them can see me -- it will be a proud moment", he said.

His comments come as he prepares to compete on one of snooker’s biggest stages while dealing with concern for loved ones and the wider situation in his country.