Snooker star Hossein Vafaei appears set to make Hong Kong his new base after being granted residency by the city's government. The Iranian has expressed his gratitude to the authorities for their ruling, as he joins a growing number of the sport's top names in moving away from the United Kingdom.
Judd Trump left for the United Arab Emirates in 2025, but found himself without a permanent base after fleeing the region due to conflict in the Middle East. The 36-year-old, unwilling to remain in limbo, subsequently upped sticks to Bangkok.
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has made Hong Kong and Dubai his stomping ground in recent years, with the Rocket revealing that his family's choice to leave their Chigwell home was partly driven by the convenience it offered for the tournament circuit. O'Sullivan made the switch after his wife was reluctant to relocate to Sheffield.
While O'Sullivan now resides in Dubai, he initially secured his move to Hong Kong through the 'Quality Migrant Admission Scheme', and it seems Vafaei may have achieved a similar feat.
"Thanks to Hong Kong government for gifting me Hong Kong residency," Vafaei posted on Instagram.
The Persian Prince has already enjoyed a well-travelled career, and somewhat stumbled into life in Darlington back in 2021. Vafaei settled in County Durham, where he honed his game at the Q House Academy alongside the likes of Zhou Yuelong, Thepchaiya Un-nooh and fellow countryman Soheil Vahedi.
After journeying to the United Kingdom for the World Championship, lockdown hit and he stayed put. "At the moment I'm living in Darlington, for the last World Championship I came with one small suitcase and after that I couldn't go back," Vafaei said at the time. "I just came by myself, I couldn't even go back to change my clothes or anything, and now everything's closed I couldn't buy anything. Oh my God, what I've done, trying to lose some weight! I ordered stuff but it was too big, so I had to wait till lockdown finished to go to the shop."
More recently, Vafaei settled in Sheffield. A choice he was delighted about when it came to playing at this year's World Championship at the Crucible. "I live in Sheffield," he said. "I wake up from my own bed, I come to the match. Perfect. That's why I came to live in Sheffield and be beside the Crucible, and to imagine one day lifting the trophy, and then it should happen."
Vafaei was the sole qualifier to progress beyond the opening round last month before eventually losing to eventual champion Wu Yize in the quarter-finals. Wu also lives in Sheffield, practising at Ding Junhui's academy.
"Sheffield is a snooker city. They love snooker. Lots of snooker academies here, lots of good international restaurants," Vafaei has also said on living in the Steel City. "Whenever you want to play someone, there's always someone for you to play and not easy opponents, they always give you a good game. Sheffield is a good city."
