Xiao Guodong

Best ranking performance: Runner up – 2013 Shanghai Masters, 2017 Shoot Out

Career highlights

2007: Wins the Asian Under-21 Championship and turns pro.
2008-9: Wins two events on the Pontins International Open Series.
2012: Makes his first ranking event quarter-final at the PTC Grand Finals, knocking out Judd Trump.
2013: Reaches his first ranking final at the Shanghai Masters. Wins eight matches to reach the final before losing 10-6 to Ding Junhui.
2014: Semi-finalist at the Australian Open. Climbs into the world’s top 32 for the first time.
2015: Gets to the final of the Shoot Out and leads Michael White by nine points with 30 seconds remaining, only for his opponent to clear up and snatch the title.
2017: Makes his second ranking final at the Shoot Out (designated a ranking event for the first time) but loses to Anthony McGill. Wins a match at the Crucible for the first time, beating Ryan Day before losing to Mark Selby in the last 16.
2019: Reaches the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix in Cheltenham, knocking out three players including Neil Robertson before losing to Ali Carter.
2020: Reaches the semi-finals of the Gibraltar Open before a narrow 4-3 reverse against Judd Trump.
2021: Makes his first official 147 during the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Open.
2023: Quarter-finalist at the German Masters and World Grand Prix. Semi-finalist at the British Open, losing to Mark Selby.