Chinese snooker player Xiao Guodong etched his name in sporting history on Thursday, claiming China's first-ever men's snooker gold medal at the 2025 Chengdu World Games after a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Cyprus' Michael Georgiou.
The 36-year-old from the Chinese mainland sacrificed participation in the Saudi Arabia Masters to focus on the global multisport event. Ranked 13th worldwide, Xiao opened strong with a 53-39 first-frame win before Georgiou leveled the match with a century break.
The decisive third frame saw dramatic momentum shifts, with Xiao building a 57-32 lead before a costly foul revived Georgiou's hopes. However, the Chinese athlete held his nerve to sink the pink ball for victory, sparking celebrations across Chengdu's Sichuan Gymnasium.
"Our month of intensive preparation paid off," Xiao told reporters, emphasizing team effort over individual glory. "Every Chinese player here contributed to this success. I hope this gold inspires more young athletes to pursue snooker."
The landmark win underscores China's growing influence in cue sports, following recent successes in billiards and pool. Analysts suggest this victory could accelerate snooker's popularity across Asia, creating new opportunities for sports tourism and equipment manufacturing sectors.
