Xiao Guodong wins first snooker title for China at Chengdu World Games

China's Xiao Guodong defeated Michael Georgiou of Cyprus 2-1 in the final at the 2025 Chengdu World Games on Thursday, securing the first men's snooker gold medal for both himself and his country in the sport at the global competition.

The 36-year-old skipped the Saudi Arabia Masters to take part in the World Games. The World No. 13 opened with aggression in the first frame, prevailing 53-39 to take a 1-0 overall lead in the match.

Georgiou quickly responded with a century break in the second frame, knotting the contest and forcing a decider. The third frame was close until Xiao grabbed a 57-32 advantage, only to commit a foul that cost him six points due to Georgiou's excellent work with the black ball. In the end, however, Xiao rolled in the pink to seal the deal and top the podium.

"I'm so glad for the victory," Xiao said. "We had been training for the World Games for a month. I think we all did excellent work in Chengdu, whether we won the gold medal or not. Our efforts paid off. I played in both the first and the final matches, and was under a lot of pressure. I hope Team China can have a perfect wrap-up."