Xiao wins the Wuhan Open, ending a 17-year wait for the title

China’s Xiao Guodong defeated his compatriot Si Jiahui 10-7 in the Wuhan Open final to claim his first ranking title after 17 years as a professional.

In his third ranking final – 11 years after he lost the first of them in Shanghai to Chinese snooker doyen Ding Junhui – Xiao withstood resistance and prevailed in a high-class match.

Xiao got off to an impressive start, taking a 5-3 lead after breaking 129 in the opening session of only the third Tour final between two players from mainland China.

Si showed determination with a century break in the eighth frame to take a lead, but Xiao later managed a run of 113 to extend his lead to 8-4 before winning the next frame of the evening session to move one away from victory .

He had to wait for his crowning moment when Si produced a stirring rally that included a breakthrough of 131 to reduce the deficit to 9-7.

The 22-year-old Si, who achieved the first 147 break of his career with a semi-final win against world number one Judd Trump, played elegantly as he tried to take the lead.

He had the first chance in the 17th frame, but a miss in the 46th frame opened the door for Xiao, who crafted a test snooker and ended Si’s challenge.

35-year-old Xiao’s success secured the top prize of £140,000.

Xiao, who knocked out reigning world champion Kyren Wilson at the start of the tournament, will move up 11 places to 18th in the world rankings with his long-awaited title.