According to major media, Vafaei was the only qualifier to advance past the first round, having beaten Si Jiahui 10-3.
After defeating Trump, Vafaei said he was not nervous and enjoyed every minute, adding that he was born for such situations. He also said the Crucible trophy is always on his mind. Major media outlets report that both Vafaei and Wu are based in Sheffield, and Vafaei has said living locally gives him an advantage as he can wake up in his own bed. He described Sheffield as a snooker city with many academies and strong players. Representing Iran during wartime, Vafaei said snooker is his only way to raise his country's flag.
The outcome of the quarter-final remains uncertain, as does the current situation in Iran. Vafaei's dream of becoming world champion continues.