14 Facts About Xiao Guodong

Xiao Guodong is a Chinese professional snooker player.

Xiao Guodong turned professional in 2007 after winning the Asian Under-21 Championships.

Xiao Guodong lost his first match in the 2007 UK Championship to Kurt Maflin and to the same player in the 2008 China Open qualifiers too.

Xiao Guodong reached the quarter-finals of Event 1 and Event 6 and went one better in Event 2, where he was knocked out in the last 4 against compatriot Ding Junhui.

Xiao Guodong finished the season ranked world number 41, meaning he had risen 23 places during the year.

Xiao Guodong took advantage of the new Asian Players Tour Championship events by taking part in all three of them.

Xiao Guodong's performances helped him to eighth on the Asian PTC Order of Merit, high enough to qualify for the Finals.

Xiao Guodong's rise up the rankings continued as he ended the campaign as the world number 23, an increase of 14 spots from the start of the season.

Xiao Guodong won five matches at the Shoot-Out, the tournament where every match is decided by one ten-minute frame, to reach the final.

Xiao Guodong lost the lead with just six seconds remaining against Michael White.

Xiao Guodong progressed through to the final qualifying round of the World Championship and his match against Jimmy Robertson went into a deciding frame which Robertson won on the final pink.

Xiao Guodong dropped 30 places to end it 51st in the world.

Xiao Guodong lost by a reversal of this scoreline to Mark Davis in the subsequent round.

Xiao Guodong reached three quarter-finals, but had victories over John Higgins, Mark Allen and Mark Selby.