China's rising snooker star Xiao Guodong delivered a spirited performance against Scotland's John Higgins, ending Thursday's first session of their World Snooker Championship match in a 4-4 deadlock. The high-stakes encounter in Sheffield saw momentum swing dramatically as four-time champion Higgins opened with a 131 break, only for Xiao to fire back with a 114-century run during a three-frame surge.
Higgins, fresh from victories at the World Open and Tour Championship, appeared dominant early with three consecutive fifty-plus breaks. Xiao's resilience shone post-interval, however, as the 33-year-old from Shanghai claimed frames 5 through 7. The pair will resume their best-of-19 match Friday afternoon with renewed intensity.
In another seismic development, four-time champion Mark Selby suffered a stunning 10-8 defeat to compatriot Ben Woollaston. The 46-minute 18th frame proved decisive when Selby missed a critical red, allowing world No. 43 Woollaston to secure his career-defining win. The Leicester native now prepares to face China's Si Jiahui, who earlier defeated England's David Gilbert.
The championship continues to showcase Asia's growing influence in professional snooker, with multiple Chinese competitors advancing through early rounds. Fans worldwide are tuning in as cultural ambassadors like Xiao Guodong challenge established European stars on snooker's biggest stage.
