Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei live stream | World Snooker Championship 2026 preview
Wu and Vafaei go head-to-head (Photos via Alamy)
Wu Yize and Hossein Vafaei face off in an intriguing battle of the first-time quarter-finalists at the 2026 World Snooker Championship.
The Crucible Theatre is set for a last-eight tie few would have predicted when the draw was initially made, with both players appearing in uncharted territory.
They have certainly earned the right to do so, though, having eliminated former World champions in epic second-round matches on Monday.
Wu beat four-time Crucible king Mark Selby 13-11, while Vafaei held his nerve to edge out 2019 victor Judd Trump in a deciding frame.
World number 10 Wu arrived in Sheffield as a seed for the first time this year seeking his maiden match win on snooker’s biggest stage.
Yet after making light work of compatriot Lei Peifan in round one, the 22-year-old then held his nerve against an uncharacteristically frustrated Selby to condemn the Jester to another premature exit at the Crucible, where he has now won just one of his last five matches.
The rising star is now just three more victories away from potentially following the likes of Joe Johnson (in 1986) and Luca Brecel (in 2023) by lifting the trophy having never previously won a match in Sheffield.
His next task will not be any easier, though, against the lowest-ranked player and only qualifier still standing in this year’s draw, in Vafaei.
The world number 32 dropped just six frames on his way to qualifying for a fourth straight year, and continued that momentum with a dominant 10-3 rout of Si Jiahui in round one.
The Iranian then held his own over 25 frames with Trump – a player who had defeated him in both their previous Crucible encounters in 2022 and 2024 – before a nerveless break of 91 in the decider got him over the line.
Following a generally poor season, it is now back-to-back quarter-finals for Vafaei, who will hope he can continue to bring joy to his nation with his ground-breaking run.
A left-handed opponent awaits the winner in the last four, in 2013 runner-up Barry Hawkins or two-time semi-finalist Mark Allen.
The match breaks off at 2.30pm BST on Tuesday with the opening eight frames, continuing with another eight the same time on Wednesday, before playing to a finish at 7pm later that day.
How to watch Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei live stream
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