HOSSEIN VAFAEI has admitted that he is playing through the pain barrier at the World Snooker Championship. The Iranian, 30, got his 2025 Crucible campaign underway yesterday against Kent's Barry Hawkins. Ranked No24 in the world, Vafaei came through qualifying to enter the main draw in Sheffield. He did so while defying doctors' orders following a nasty shoulder injury. Vafaei revealed: "I went to the gym. I was angry and I went heavy. "I went to do my shoulders, did it heavy to get all the negative out, and after two or three days I felt it in my neck. "Then my shoulder. Then it made my left arm completely numb. The doctor told me I need to rest, that I shouldn’t play snooker. "I started playing again and then hurt my disc. One of my discs is turning around right now as well. "After coming here, I’ll probably have to go to the surgery in Iran. I’m in lots of pain right now." Despite battling through injury, Vafaei is not taking painkillers. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He added: "I don’t like painkillers. They are not good for your body, they are food for cancer. "If I don’t compete then people will say lots of bad things. I have to finish my tournaments and after that, I’ll go to the Iran Olympic Committee. "They have a doctor waiting for me for a long time now. They’ll decide what I have to do." Born in Abadan, Iran, Vafaei has moved to Sheffield in a bid to further his career. On his move to the Steel City, Vafaei said: "Sheffield is a snooker city. They love snooker. Lots of snooker academies here, lots of good international restaurants. "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." Vafaei finished yesterday's evening session trailing Hawkins 5-4. The duo will resume their first round battle tonight.