In a historic moment for Chinese snooker, Xiao Guodong secured his first-ever ranking title by defeating fellow compatriot Si Jiahui 10-7 in the final of the World Snooker Tour (WST) Wuhan Open held in Wuhan's Hubei Province on Saturday.
Both Xiao and Si showcased remarkable skill, overcoming top-tier opponents to reach the championship bout. Xiao's impressive journey included victories over World No. 2 Kyren Wilson and reigning world champion Shaun Murphy of England, while Si triumphed over World No. 1 and 29-time ranking event winner Judd Trump, also from England.
The final marked the third all-Chinese showdown in the history of the Wuhan Open finals. Reflecting on his previous experience, Xiao recalled the 2013 Shanghai Masters final where he faced Ding Junhui but fell short with a 10-6 loss.
During the Wuhan Open final, Xiao dominated the first session, leading 6-3 after securing four of the first five frames and achieving notable breaks of 128 and 73 in the eighth and ninth frames. Although Si struggled to match Xiao's performance, he made a comeback with a century break of 108 and two additional breaks of 84 in the concluding three frames to clinch the title.
This victory not only marks a significant milestone in Xiao Guodong's career but also highlights the growing prominence of Chinese players in the international snooker scene.
Reference(s):
China's Xiao Guodong captures first-ever ranking title at Wuhan Open
cgtn.com
