Xiao Guodong Can Join Snooker's Elite With Third Straight Wuhan Open Crown
History Beckons for the Defending Champion
Xiao Guodong arrives at the 2026 Wuhan Open carrying more than just a number 10 world ranking — he carries the weight of snooker history. The 37-year-old Chinese stalwart is the two-time defending champion at this event and, should he go all the way again, he will become only the fifth player ever to win the same ranking tournament three consecutive times. That is rarefied company by anyone's measure, and it makes Xiao one of the most compelling stories heading into Sunday's opening rounds.
His record at this particular venue is nothing short of extraordinary. He dispatched fellow countryman Si Jiahui 10-7 in the 2024 final, then produced one of the most nerve-shredding finishes you could ask for when edging Gary Wilson 10-9 twelve months later. Beyond those two title runs, Xiao currently sits on a remarkable 14-match winning streak at the Wuhan Open. You do not dismiss form like that lightly, regardless of who else is in the draw.
The Exclusive Club He's Trying to Join
To fully appreciate what Xiao is attempting, it is worth looking at the four players who have previously achieved the three-in-a-row feat at ranking level. Ray Reardon was the trailblazer, claiming the World Championship in 1974, 1975, and 1976 — the first three editions to carry retrospective ranking status. Steve Davis then did it twice over: four successive UK Championships from 1984 to 1987, and three consecutive World titles between 1987 and 1989. Stephen Hendry matched that double achievement, winning five straight World Championships from 1992 to 1996 alongside three back-to-back UK Championships between 1994 and 1996. Most recently, Judd Trump took the Northern Ireland Open in 2018, 2019, and 2020 — beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final on each occasion, which tells you everything about the level of competition he faced.
For context, there have been similar hat-tricks in non-ranking events — Hendry won five straight Masters titles from 1989 to 1993, O'Sullivan claimed five consecutive Premier League crowns between 2005 and 2008, and Selby has won the Championship League three years running from 2024 to 2026. But ranking event three-peats? Only four men have ever done it. Xiao wants to be the fifth, and he is doing it on home soil in front of a passionate crowd that will be firmly behind him.
The Draw and the Competition
Xiao opens his campaign against Wang Xinbo in the last 64, which on paper looks a manageable opener for a player in his kind of form at this venue. The bigger tests will inevitably come from the heavyweight names further into the draw.
Judd Trump — the 2023 Wuhan Open champion and a man who knows exactly what it takes to win here — begins against Austria's Florian Nuessle. Mark Selby, fresh from claiming his fourth China Open title in Taiyuan just days ago, faces Fan Zhengyi. Wu Yize, the reigning world champion, has been drawn against Artemijs Zizins, while pre-tournament favourite Zhao Xintong will meet either Gao Yang or Guan Zhen. Neil Robertson is also in the mix as a potential title contender.
Make no mistake — Xiao will not be among the outright favourites this week. The bookmakers will have Trump, Zhao, Wu, and possibly Selby ahead of him in the betting. But this is a player who has won every single match he has played at this event across the last two years. That kind of dominance at a specific venue is not coincidence; it is familiarity, confidence, and an almost unique ability to produce his best snooker when it matters most in Wuhan.
The Verdict
Xiao Guodong at each-way odds to win the Wuhan Open is a genuinely compelling proposition. He is unlikely to be priced as favourite — which actually makes the each-way value all the more attractive. A player on a 14-match winning streak at the venue, defending champion twice over, and chasing a place in the history books? That is exactly the kind of narrative that tends to play out on the table as much as it does in the press room.
Keep an eye on the draw as it develops. If Xiao can navigate his opening couple of matches and avoid the top seeds until the quarter-finals, do not be surprised if we are talking about a genuine three-peat by the business end of the week. Back him each-way and enjoy the ride.
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