While most snooker fans know the big names from the UK, China, and Australia, Hossein Vafaei became Iran’s first professional snooker player, won a ranking title in 2022, and has consistently climbed the world rankings. This article traces his career, clears up what’s publicly known about his personal life and finances, and answers the questions fans ask most.
Born: 15 October 1994 ·
Nationality: Iranian ·
Professional Since: 2012 ·
Highest Ranking: 15 ·
Current Ranking: 30 ·
Ranking Titles: 1
Quick snapshot
- First Iranian professional snooker player (WPBSA)
- World Amateur and Under-21 champion (Deutsche Welle)
- Won 2022 Snooker Shoot Out (Times of India)
- Highest ranking: 15 (SnookerHQ)
- Net worth not publicly documented
- Marital status not officially confirmed
- Religion not publicly disclosed
- Exact UK residence address unknown
- Coach not publicly disclosed
- Century count not officially published
- Next match schedule not yet announced
- Next match schedule not yet announced
- Competing on World Snooker Tour for 2026–27
- Potential to improve ranking further
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 October 1994 |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Professional Since | 2012 |
| Highest Ranking | 15 |
| Current Ranking | 30 |
| Ranking Titles | 1 |
Does Hossein Vafaei live in the UK?
Yes – Vafaei is a professional snooker player competing on the World Snooker Tour, which is headquartered in England. He is primarily based in the United Kingdom during the snooker season, though his exact residential address is not publicly known. Most international players on the tour maintain a UK base because the vast majority of ranking events are held in Britain.
Where does Hossein Vafaei live?
- He trains and competes in the UK, like many non-British tour professionals (WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association)).
- No specific city or address has been publicly confirmed.
The implication: Vafaei’s UK base is a practical necessity for his career, not a permanent relocation – he retains Iranian nationality and represents Iran in international events.
What happened to Hossein Vafaei?
Vafaei’s career is a story of firsts. He became Iran’s first professional snooker player, won amateur world titles as a teenager, and in 2022 secured his first ranking title – a milestone for his country.
What is Hossein Vafaei’s family background?
- He was born on 15 October 1994 in Iran (WPBSA).
- He first picked up a cue at age six (Deutsche Welle (German international broadcaster)).
- By age 17 he became the youngest World Amateur champion (Deutsche Welle).
- He turned professional in 2012 (SnookerHQ (snooker news and profiles)).
- In January 2022 he won the Snooker Shoot Out in Leicester, becoming the first Iranian to win a world ranking tournament (WPBSA).
- He reached the last 16 of the World Championship in both 2023 and 2025 (BBC Sport (UK’s leading sports broadcaster)).
- In 2026 he needed two qualifying wins to secure his Crucible spot (BBC Sport).
The pattern: Vafaei has consistently broken barriers for Iranian snooker, from amateur dominance to professional success on the biggest stage.
What is Hossein Vafaei’s net worth?
Vafaei’s net worth is not publicly documented. The only financial data available are tournament prize money figures reported by the WPBSA.
How many ranking titles has Hossein Vafaei won?
- One ranking title: the 2022 Snooker Shoot Out (WPBSA).
What is Hossein Vafaei’s highest break?
- His highest competitive break is not officially listed on his WPBSA profile, but SnookerHQ notes he is known for strong break-building (SnookerHQ).
His career earnings from the WPBSA money list stand at £247,600 (WPBSA (official player earnings record)). His one-year earnings are £118,800. Fan estimates of his net worth often range between $500,000 and $1 million, but these are not backed by official disclosure.
The trade-off: Without a public net worth figure, any specific number is speculation. The only verifiable financial data is tournament prize money.
Is Hossein Vafaei married?
There is no official confirmation of Vafaei’s marital status. Media reports and public profiles do not mention a spouse or partner.
Who is Hossein Vafaei’s wife?
- Not publicly identified. No credible source has named a wife.
What is Hossein Vafaei’s religion?
- His religious affiliation is not publicly disclosed.
Vafaei is known to be from Iran, a predominantly Muslim country, but he has not spoken about his personal beliefs in interviews.
The result: Fans have limited confirmed information about Vafaei’s personal life.
What is Hossein Vafaei’s ranking?
Vafaei’s ranking has climbed steadily since turning professional. His highest world ranking is No. 15, achieved in 2023 (SnookerHQ). His current ranking as of the 2026–27 season is 30, according to the WPBSA (WPBSA). The BBC reported him at 32 in April 2026 (BBC Sport).
What is Hossein Vafaei’s highest ranking?
- Highest ranking: 15 (SnookerHQ).
Why this matters: Vafaei is the highest-ranked Iranian snooker player of all time, and his position in the top 32 keeps him eligible for all major tournaments without requiring qualifying rounds.
Timeline signal
Key milestones in Vafaei’s career are shown below.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Hossein Vafaei born on 15 October 1994 in Iran. (WPBSA) |
| 2012 | Turned professional snooker player. (SnookerHQ) |
| 2022 | Won first ranking title at the Snooker Shoot Out. (WPBSA) |
| 2026 | Current ranking 30. (WPBSA) |
Confirmed facts vs. Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Birth date: 15 October 1994 (WPBSA)
- Nationality: Iranian (WPBSA)
- Professional since 2012 (SnookerHQ)
- First Iranian professional snooker player (Times of India)
- Ranking title: 2022 Shoot Out (WPBSA)
- Highest ranking: 15 (SnookerHQ)
- Current ranking: 30 (WPBSA)
Unclear
- Exact net worth
- Marital status and spouse
- Religious affiliation
- Exact UK residence address
- Coach identity
- Century count
- Next match schedule
Expert perspectives
“Iran’s first professional snooker player, who made history in January 2022 by becoming the first Iranian to win a world ranking tournament at the Shoot Out.”
— WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association), the sport’s governing body
“Known for strong break-building and as his country’s first ranking event winner.”
— SnookerHQ, a snooker news and profile outlet
For Iranian snooker fans, Vafaei’s career is proof that barriers can be broken. For the global snooker audience, he is a talented top-32 player who has already made history. The implication for Vafaei himself: he must continue to perform at the Crucible and in ranking events to push his ranking back toward the top 16, or risk losing automatic qualification for the biggest tournaments.
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Frequently asked questions
How did Hossein Vafaei become a professional?
He turned professional in 2012 after winning the World Under-21 Championship and the World Amateur Championship.
What was Hossein Vafaei’s first ranking title?
The 2022 Snooker Shoot Out in Leicester, where he became the first Iranian to win a world ranking tournament.
How many centuries has Hossein Vafaei made?
His century count is not officially published on the WPBSA site, but SnookerHQ notes his strong break-building ability.
Who is Hossein Vafaei’s coach?
His current coach is not publicly disclosed.
What are Hossein Vafaei’s main achievements?
First Iranian professional player, 2022 Shoot Out winner, World Amateur and Under-21 champion, highest ranking of 15.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.