Topzle Topzle

Hossein Vafaei

Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:45:09 PM Wikipedia source

Hossein Vafaei (Persian: حسین وفایی; born 15 October 1994) is an Iranian professional snooker player. He is the first professional player from Iran. He won his first ranking title at the 2022 Snooker Shoot Out, beating Mark Williams 1–0 (71–0) in the final. Vafaei made his Crucible debut at the 2022 World Snooker Championship, where he lost 4–10 to Judd Trump in the first round. He made his Masters debut at the 2023 event, replacing Zhao Xintong in the draw after the sport's governing body suspended Zhao amid a match-fixing investigation. Vafaei defeated Mark Selby 6–2 in the first round, but lost 4–6 to Jack Lisowski in the quarter-finals, despite equalling the tournament's highest break of 143 in the match.

Infobox

Born
(1994-10-15) 15 October 1994 (age 31)Abadan, Iran
Sport country
Iran
Nickname
The Prince of Persia
Professional
2012–present
Highest ranking
15 (October 2023)
Current ranking
32 (as of 14 December 2025)
Maximum breaks
1
Century breaks
159 (as of 19 December 2025)
Ranking
1

Tables

· Performance and rankings timeline
Ranking
Ranking
Tournament
Ranking
2013/14
97
2015/16
126
2016/17
89
2017/18
59
2018/19
45
2019/20
40
2020/21
41
2021/22
41
2022/23
17
2023/24
17
2024/25
21
2025/26
24
Ranking tournaments
Ranking tournaments
Tournament
Ranking tournaments
Championship League
Championship League
Tournament
Championship League
2011/12
Non-Ranking Event
2012/13
RR
2013/14
RR
2014/15
2R
2015/16
RR
2016/17
2R
2017/18
A
Saudi Arabia Masters
Saudi Arabia Masters
Tournament
Saudi Arabia Masters
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
4R
2013/14
4R
Wuhan Open
Wuhan Open
Tournament
Wuhan Open
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
LQ
2013/14
2R
2014/15
2R
English Open
English Open
Tournament
English Open
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
A
2013/14
QF
2014/15
2R
2015/16
3R
2016/17
4R
2017/18
1R
2018/19
1R
2019/20
2R
2020/21
2R
2021/22
1R
British Open
British Open
Tournament
British Open
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
4R
2013/14
LQ
2014/15
SF
2015/16
1R
2016/17
LQ
Xi'an Grand Prix
Xi'an Grand Prix
Tournament
Xi'an Grand Prix
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
3R
2013/14
LQ
Northern Ireland Open
Northern Ireland Open
Tournament
Northern Ireland Open
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
QF
2013/14
2R
2014/15
1R
2015/16
1R
2016/17
1R
2017/18
LQ
2018/19
2R
2019/20
2R
2020/21
1R
2021/22
1R
International Championship
International Championship
Tournament
International Championship
2011/12
NH
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
LQ
2017/18
WD
2018/19
2R
2019/20
WD
2020/21
Not Held
2021/22
1R
2022/23
2R
2023/24
2R
UK Championship
UK Championship
Tournament
UK Championship
2011/12
A
2012/13
WD
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
1R
2016/17
1R
2017/18
3R
2018/19
3R
2019/20
1R
2020/21
3R
2021/22
4R
2022/23
2R
2023/24
SF
2024/25
LQ
2025/26
LQ
Shoot Out
Shoot Out
Tournament
Shoot Out
2011/12
Non-Ranking Event
2012/13
2R
2013/14
A
2014/15
2R
2015/16
1R
2016/17
2R
2017/18
W
2018/19
1R
2019/20
WD
2020/21
2R
2021/22
2R
Scottish Open
Scottish Open
Tournament
Scottish Open
2011/12
NH
2012/13
MR
2013/14
Not Held
2014/15
2R
2015/16
1R
2016/17
WD
2017/18
1R
2018/19
2R
2019/20
2R
2020/21
3R
2021/22
LQ
2022/23
1R
2023/24
2R
German Masters
German Masters
Tournament
German Masters
2011/12
A
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
A
2017/18
LQ
2018/19
LQ
2019/20
LQ
2020/21
LQ
2021/22
LQ
2022/23
LQ
2023/24
WD
2024/25
WD
World Grand Prix
World Grand Prix
Tournament
World Grand Prix
2011/12
Not Held
2012/13
NH
2013/14
DNQ
2014/15
DNQ
2015/16
DNQ
2016/17
DNQ
2017/18
DNQ
2018/19
QF
2019/20
2R
2020/21
1R
2021/22
2R
2022/23
QF
Players Championship
Players Championship
Tournament
Players Championship
2011/12
DNQ
2012/13
DNQ
2013/14
DNQ
2014/15
DNQ
2015/16
DNQ
2016/17
DNQ
2017/18
DNQ
2018/19
DNQ
2019/20
DNQ
2020/21
DNQ
2021/22
1R
2022/23
DNQ
2023/24
1R
2024/25
DNQ
Welsh Open
Welsh Open
Tournament
Welsh Open
2011/12
A
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
1R
2016/17
4R
2017/18
1R
2018/19
SF
2019/20
1R
2020/21
4R
2021/22
SF
2022/23
3R
2023/24
2R
2024/25
2R
World Open
World Open
Tournament
World Open
2011/12
WR
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
Not Held
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
WD
2017/18
A
2018/19
2R
2019/20
Not Held
2020/21
QF
2021/22
2R
Tour Championship
Tour Championship
Tournament
Tour Championship
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
DNQ
2013/14
DNQ
2014/15
DNQ
2015/16
DNQ
2016/17
DNQ
2017/18
DNQ
2018/19
DNQ
World Championship
World Championship
Tournament
World Championship
2011/12
A
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
LQ
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
LQ
2017/18
LQ
2018/19
LQ
2019/20
LQ
2020/21
LQ
2021/22
1R
2022/23
2R
2023/24
1R
2024/25
2R
Non-ranking tournaments
Non-ranking tournaments
Tournament
Non-ranking tournaments
Shanghai Masters
Shanghai Masters
Tournament
Shanghai Masters
2011/12
Ranking Event
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
Not Held
2015/16
2R
2016/17
A
Champion of Champions
Champion of Champions
Tournament
Champion of Champions
2011/12
Not Held
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
A
2016/17
A
2017/18
A
2018/19
A
2019/20
A
2020/21
A
2021/22
1R
2022/23
A
2023/24
A
The Masters
The Masters
Tournament
The Masters
2011/12
A
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
A
2016/17
A
2017/18
A
2018/19
A
2019/20
A
2020/21
A
2021/22
A
2022/23
QF
2023/24
A
2024/25
A
Championship League
Championship League
Tournament
Championship League
2011/12
A
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
A
2016/17
A
2017/18
A
2018/19
A
2019/20
A
2020/21
A
2021/22
A
2022/23
A
2023/24
WD
2024/25
SF
Former ranking tournaments
Former ranking tournaments
Tournament
Former ranking tournaments
Australian Goldfields Open
Australian Goldfields Open
Tournament
Australian Goldfields Open
2011/12
A
2012/13
WD
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
1R
2016/17
Tournament Not Held
Shanghai Masters
Shanghai Masters
Tournament
Shanghai Masters
2011/12
WR
2012/13
WD
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
A
2017/18
1R
2018/19
Non-Ranking
2019/20
Not Held
2020/21
Non-Ranking
Indian Open
Indian Open
Tournament
Indian Open
2011/12
Not Held
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
NH
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
3R
2017/18
2R
2018/19
Tournament Not Held
China Open
China Open
Tournament
China Open
2011/12
A
2012/13
A
2013/14
A
2014/15
A
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
SF
2017/18
WD
2018/19
3R
2019/20
Tournament Not Held
Riga Masters
Riga Masters
Tournament
Riga Masters
2011/12
Not Held
2012/13
Minor-Ranking
2013/14
WD
2014/15
2R
2015/16
A
2016/17
WD
2017/18
Tournament Not Held
China Championship
China Championship
Tournament
China Championship
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
NR
2013/14
1R
2014/15
3R
2015/16
SF
2016/17
Tournament Not Held
WST Pro Series
WST Pro Series
Tournament
WST Pro Series
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
RR
2013/14
Tournament Not Held
Turkish Masters
Turkish Masters
Tournament
Turkish Masters
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
2R
2013/14
Tournament Not Held
Gibraltar Open
Gibraltar Open
Tournament
Gibraltar Open
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
MR
2013/14
1R
2014/15
A
2015/16
A
2016/17
2R
2017/18
3R
2018/19
WD
2019/20
Tournament Not Held
WST Classic
WST Classic
Tournament
WST Classic
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
3R
2013/14
Not Held
European Masters
European Masters
Tournament
European Masters
2011/12
Tournament Not Held
2012/13
WD
2013/14
1R
2014/15
WD
2015/16
LQ
2016/17
2R
2017/18
1R
2018/19
1R
2019/20
1R
2020/21
Not Held
Former non-ranking tournaments
Former non-ranking tournaments
Tournament
Former non-ranking tournaments
Six-red World Championship
Six-red World Championship
Tournament
Six-red World Championship
2011/12
NH
2012/13
3R
2013/14
RR
2014/15
QF
2015/16
A
2016/17
A
2017/18
A
2018/19
A
2019/20
A
2020/21
Not Held
2021/22
SF
2022/23
Not Held
Tournament
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
Ranking
97
126
89
59
45
40
41
41
17
17
21
24
Ranking tournaments
Championship League
Non-Ranking Event
RR
RR
2R
RR
2R
A
Saudi Arabia Masters
Tournament Not Held
4R
4R
Wuhan Open
Tournament Not Held
LQ
2R
2R
English Open
Tournament Not Held
A
QF
2R
3R
4R
1R
1R
2R
2R
1R
British Open
Tournament Not Held
4R
LQ
SF
1R
LQ
Xi'an Grand Prix
Tournament Not Held
3R
LQ
Northern Ireland Open
Tournament Not Held
QF
2R
1R
1R
1R
LQ
2R
2R
1R
1R
International Championship
NH
A
A
A
LQ
LQ
WD
2R
WD
Not Held
1R
2R
2R
UK Championship
A
WD
A
A
1R
1R
3R
3R
1R
3R
4R
2R
SF
LQ
LQ
Shoot Out
Non-Ranking Event
2R
A
2R
1R
2R
W
1R
WD
2R
2R
Scottish Open
NH
MR
Not Held
2R
1R
WD
1R
2R
2R
3R
LQ
1R
2R
German Masters
A
A
A
A
LQ
A
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
WD
WD
World Grand Prix
Not Held
NH
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
QF
2R
1R
2R
QF
Players Championship
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
1R
DNQ
1R
DNQ
Welsh Open
A
A
A
A
1R
4R
1R
SF
1R
4R
SF
3R
2R
2R
World Open
WR
A
A
Not Held
LQ
WD
A
2R
Not Held
QF
2R
Tour Championship
Tournament Not Held
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
World Championship
A
A
A
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
LQ
1R
2R
1R
2R
Non-ranking tournaments
Shanghai Masters
Ranking Event
A
A
Not Held
2R
A
Champion of Champions
Not Held
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
1R
A
A
The Masters
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
QF
A
A
Championship League
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
WD
SF
Former ranking tournaments
Australian Goldfields Open
A
WD
A
A
1R
Tournament Not Held
Shanghai Masters
WR
WD
A
A
LQ
A
1R
Non-Ranking
Not Held
Non-Ranking
Indian Open
Not Held
A
A
NH
LQ
3R
2R
Tournament Not Held
China Open
A
A
A
A
LQ
SF
WD
3R
Tournament Not Held
Riga Masters
Not Held
Minor-Ranking
WD
2R
A
WD
Tournament Not Held
China Championship
Tournament Not Held
NR
1R
3R
SF
Tournament Not Held
WST Pro Series
Tournament Not Held
RR
Tournament Not Held
Turkish Masters
Tournament Not Held
2R
Tournament Not Held
Gibraltar Open
Tournament Not Held
MR
1R
A
A
2R
3R
WD
Tournament Not Held
WST Classic
Tournament Not Held
3R
Not Held
European Masters
Tournament Not Held
WD
1R
WD
LQ
2R
1R
1R
1R
Not Held
Former non-ranking tournaments
Six-red World Championship
NH
3R
RR
QF
A
A
A
A
A
Not Held
SF
Not Held
· Performance and rankings timeline
LQ
LQ
Performance Table Legend
LQ
Performance Table Legend
lost in the qualifying draw
Performance Table Legend
#R
Performance Table Legend
lost in the early rounds of the tournament(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
Performance Table Legend
QF
Performance Table Legend
lost in the quarter-finals
SF
SF
Performance Table Legend
SF
Performance Table Legend
lost in the semi-finals
Performance Table Legend
F
Performance Table Legend
lost in the final
Performance Table Legend
W
Performance Table Legend
won the tournament
DNQ
DNQ
Performance Table Legend
DNQ
Performance Table Legend
did not qualify for the tournament
Performance Table Legend
A
Performance Table Legend
did not participate in the tournament
Performance Table Legend
WD
Performance Table Legend
withdrew from the tournament
Performance Table Legend
LQ
lost in the qualifying draw
lost in the early rounds of the tournament(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
QF
lost in the quarter-finals
SF
lost in the semi-finals
F
lost in the final
W
won the tournament
DNQ
did not qualify for the tournament
A
did not participate in the tournament
WD
withdrew from the tournament
· Performance and rankings timeline
MR / Minor-ranking event
MR / Minor-ranking event
NH / Not held
MR / Minor-ranking event
NH / Not held
means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
NR / Non-ranking event
NR / Non-ranking event
NH / Not held
NR / Non-ranking event
NH / Not held
means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking event
R / Ranking event
NH / Not held
R / Ranking event
NH / Not held
means an event is/was now a ranking event
NH / Not held
means an event was not held.
MR / Minor-ranking event
means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
NR / Non-ranking event
means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking event
means an event is/was now a ranking event
· Career finals › Ranking finals: 1 (1 title)
Winner
Winner
Outcome
Winner
No.
1.
Year
2022
Championship
Snooker Shoot Out
Opponent in the final
Mark Williams
Score
1–0
Outcome
No.
Year
Championship
Opponent in the final
Score
Winner
1.
2022
Snooker Shoot Out
Mark Williams
1–0
· Career finals › Pro-am finals: 1
Runner-up
Runner-up
Outcome
Runner-up
No.
1.
Year
2017
Championship
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
Opponent in the final
Zhao Xintong
Score
2–4
Outcome
No.
Year
Championship
Opponent in the final
Score
Runner-up
1.
2017
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
Zhao Xintong
2–4
· Career finals › Amateur finals: 4 (3 titles)
Runner-up
Runner-up
Outcome
Runner-up
No.
1.
Year
2011
Championship
ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship
Opponent in the final
Cao Yupeng
Score
3–7
Winner
Winner
Outcome
Winner
No.
1.
Year
2011
Championship
World Amateur Snooker Championship
Opponent in the final
Lee Walker
Score
10–9
Winner
Winner
Outcome
Winner
No.
2.
Year
2012
Championship
ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship
Opponent in the final
Zhang Anda
Score
6–2
Winner
Winner
Outcome
Winner
No.
3.
Year
2014
Championship
World Amateur Under-21 Championship
Opponent in the final
Josh Boileau
Score
8–3
Outcome
No.
Year
Championship
Opponent in the final
Score
Runner-up
1.
2011
ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship
Cao Yupeng
3–7
Winner
1.
2011
World Amateur Snooker Championship
Lee Walker
10–9
Winner
2.
2012
ACBS Asian Under-21 Championship
Zhang Anda
6–2
Winner
3.
2014
World Amateur Under-21 Championship
Josh Boileau
8–3

References

  1. It shows the ranking at the beginning of the season
  2. He was an amateur
  3. New players on the Main Tour don't have a ranking
  4. Players qualified through special dispensation started the season without prize money ranking points
  5. The event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Final (2011/2012–2015/2016)
  6. The event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)
  7. World Snooker Tour
    https://www.wst.tv/players/99019ac8-ad6a-4927-9f93-1935ea43ca55
  8. "VAFAEI AYOURI Hossein"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190207080206/http://www.gz2010.cn/info/ENG/ZB/ZBB101A_BS@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ENG_number=224500.htm
  9. "Hossein Set For Pro Tour"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140611132503/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2724224%2C00.html
  10. World Snooker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220413203000/https://wst.tv/irans-vafaei-earns-crucible-debut/
  11. World Snooker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220421212632/https://wst.tv/trump-ends-vafaeis-historic-run/
  12. World Snooker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230105123523/https://wst.tv/vafaei-joins-cazoo-masters-field/
  13. the Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/08/shaun-murphy-dumps-defending-champion-neil-robertson-out-of-masters-snooker
  14. World Snooker
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230112234004/https://wst.tv/lisowski-battles-through-migraine-to-beat-vafaei/
  15. "IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship 2009"
    http://www.cuesportsindia.com/global/2009/isbf/U21snooker.html
  16. "Snooker (Men) Individual"
    http://www.cuesportsindia.com/global/2010/asiangames/AG2010SNK.html
  17. "World Snooker Championship 2010"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20101225053926/http://ibsf.info/cgi-bin/ibsf.pl?A=ResultDetail&ID=21
  18. "Asian Championship 2011 - 12th Under-21 Snooker"
    http://www.cuesportsindia.com/global/2011/acbs/U21snooker.htm
  19. www.cuesportsindia.com
    http://www.cuesportsindia.com/global/2011/acbs/snooker.htm
  20. "Shanghai Masters (2011)"
    http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=96
  21. "Ayouri managed, retained the title in Asia"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120525065655/http://www.ibsf.info/cgi-bin/ibsf.pl?A=NewsDetail&ID=46
  22. "Results of 2011 IBSF World Men's Snooker Championship"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130127140033/http://www.ibsf.info/cgi-bin/ibsf.pl?A=ResultDetail&ID=27
  23. cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130210111343/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Records.html
  24. worldsnooker.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120131224354/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/28/9a/0%2C%2C13165~170536%2C00.pdf
  25. "Haikou World Open (2012)"
    http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=105&season=2011
  26. www.cuesportsindia.com
    http://www.cuesportsindia.com/global/2012/acbs/U21snooker.htm
  27. "2012 Asian Snooker Championship"
    http://www.cuesportsindia.com/global/2012/acbs/snooker.htm
  28. "The Tour 2012/2013 Season Provisional Qualifying Criteria"
    http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/46/a4/0,,13165~173126,00.pdf
  29. "Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 2012/2013"
    http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=666&season=2012
  30. "Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 2013/2014"
    http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=2013&player=666
  31. "Knockout Draw for World Under-21 Snooker Championship"
    http://ibsfnews.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=232:knockout-draw-for-world-under-21-snooker-championship&Itemid=181
  32. "Hossein hits the maximum"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140517235935/http://ibsfnews.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=232:knockout-draw-for-world-under-21-snooker-championship&Itemid=181
  33. "Second world title for Hossein Vafaei"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140518205156/http://ibsfnews.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=242%3Asecond-world-title-for-hossein-vafaei&Itemid=181
  34. worldsnooker.com
    http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3910046,00.html
  35. prosnookerblog.com
    http://www.prosnookerblog.com/2015/02/26/visa-for-vafaei/
  36. "Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 2014/2015"
    http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=666
  37. "Hotshot Hossein Is Bendigo Bound"
    http://www.worldsnooker.com/ayouri-into-final-round/
  38. "Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 2015/2016"
    http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=666&season=2015
  39. Tehran Times
    http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/408397/Iran-s-Hossein-Vafaei-makes-history-in-Northern-Ireland-Open
  40. "'Dreadful' King into Northern Ireland Open last four"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170220173124/http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/sport/dreadful_king_into_northern_ireland_open_last_four_1_4783616
  41. "Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 2016/2017"
    http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=666&season=2016
  42. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/39458623
  43. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/39466158
  44. "O'Brien Wins Record Two-Hour Frame"
    http://www.worldsnooker.com/obrien-wins-record-two-hour-frame/
  45. "Rankings 2016/2017"
    http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=2016&template=31
  46. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/60106607
  47. "Mark Selby suffers shock UK Championship exit to Hossein Vafaei"
    https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker/uk-championship-mark-selby-hossein-vafaei-judd-trump-b2226005.html=36
  48. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/08/shaun-murphy-dumps-defending-champion-neil-robertson-out-of-masters-snooker
  49. eurosport.com
    https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/world-championship/2022-2023/world-snooker-championship-2023-live-ding-junhui-v-hossein-vafaei-followed-by-mark-williams-against-_sto9565113/story.shtml
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.