Xiao Guodong completes Championship League Snooker Winners' Group line-up

It has been a breakthrough season for Xiao who won his first ranking title at the Wuhan Open a few months ago, and the 35-year-old will go for another professional title when he joins Hossein Vafaei, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, Matthew Selt and Judd Trump for the conclusion of this tournament on February 4th & 5th.

China’s Xiao only had one shot at qualification for the Winners' Group as he only entered this year's event in this, the seventh and final regular group of the competition. He won four of his five round robin matches at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester to finish second in the group and qualify for the four-player playoffs.

Three-time ranking event winner Ricky Walden ended the group phase on top with a 100% record having won five out of five matches. The group was reduced to six players after Crucible finalist Jak Jones - who has had a very eventful Championship League campaign - withdrew following his opening match.

Elsewhere in the group, third-placed Noppon Saengkham reached the playoffs, as too did Gilbert who qualified by a single frame. During his 3-1 victory over Zhou Yuelong - which proved crucial in finishing one frame ahead of him in fourth place - Gilbert compiled his third maximum 147 break in professional competition. All three of those maximums have come in this tournament; the others were made in 2015 and 2019.

In the playoff semi-finals, Xiao was in brilliant scoring nick as he registered runs of 75, 100 and 123 in a 3-0 win over Saengkham, while Gilbert pipped table-topper Walden 3-2, with an effort of 135 in the deciding frame.

A gripping group final ensued, with a break of 69 helping Gilbert level the match at 1-1 after Xiao took the opener.

Xiao (65 break) went back in front, but a contribution of 101 aided Gilbert in forcing the contest all the way.

Both players had a fantastic chance to win the decider, but when Gilbert missed the final red at an acute angle into a middle pocket, Xiao sank it to leave his opponent needing penalty points, and a handshake immediately arrived.

So, after seven groups, 14 days of action, and over 150 matches, the line-up for the Winners' Group is now set. The winner - if they haven't already got one - will earn an invite to the prestigious 2025 Champion of Champions.

For results from the 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational Event, please visit here.