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Xiao Guodong wins Wuhan Open to claim first ranking title

Jonathan Davies in Wuhan Open

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Si Jiahui v Xiao Guodong live stream | Wuhan Open 2024 Final preview

Xiao Guodong kisses the trophy (Photo via Alamy News)

Xiao Guodong captured the first ranking title of his 17-year career after defeating Si Jiahui 10-7 in Saturday’s Wuhan Open final.

The world number 29 hit two centuries – taking his tally for the week to eight – on the way to pocketing the top prize of ยฃ140,000 at the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center.

Runner-up at the 2013 Shanghai Masters and 2017 Shoot Out, Xiao made it third time lucky in a ranking final, as he withstood his opponent’s fightback from 9-4 down to only trail 9-7.

However, it came just a little too late for Si, who narrowly missed out on claiming his maiden ranking silverware.

Two Chinese players were contesting a ranking final for only the third time in history.

Ironically, Xiao was involved in one of the previous two, losing out to Ding Junhui in the Shanghai Masters showpiece 11 years ago, and he controlled the opening two frames with runs of 54 and 74.

Si, who compiled a wonderful 147 during his 6-2 victory over reigning champion Judd Trump in the semi-finals, responded with 109, but his opponent won the next two frames on the black to lead 4-1.

The 22-year-old closed the gap to 4-3 with a run of 84, only for Xiao to pull clear again at the end of the afternoon with 129 and a 73 counter clearance from 54-0 down in frame nine.

Si made another break of 109 in the evening session, but he could not prevent his opponent from winning three of the opening four frames, with contributions of 113 and 77 putting him on the brink of victory at 9-4 up.

To his credit, Si refused to lie down in his quest to go one better than his run to the German Masters final earlier this year, when he was denied by Judd Trump.

As Xiao’s nerves grew within the winning line drawing nearer, he hit breaks of 76, 131 and 83 to close the gap to 9-7.

However, Xiao regained his composure and a superb safety shot on the final red eventually paved the way for him to get over the line and become China’s seventh different ranking event winner.