Chinese snooker player Xiao Guodong Photo: Courtesy of World Snooker Tour

China's Xiao Guodong secured a spot in the last 16 of the 2025 World Snooker Championship with a convincing 10-4 victory over England's Matthew Selt over the weekend, which thrilled many ­Chinese snooker fans on Monday.

The 36-year-old Chinese took a strong 7-2 lead in the first session on Saturday and stayed ahead on Sunday to win the match 10-4. In the next round, he will play against either John Higgins of Scotland or Joe O'Connor of England.

This is only Xiao's second career win at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, the first coming in 2017 when he defeated Ryan Day of Wales. 

"Everyone wants to play their best at the Crucible. It's such an important event," said Xiao, as quoted by the World Snooker Tour website. "This season I have won a title and been in nine quarter-finals. I want to be at my best in the last tournament."

Another Chinese player, 21-year-old Wu Yize, put up a strong fight against three-time world champion Mark Williams of Wales. Wu led 8-7 but couldn't hold on, losing the next three games.

Williams, who lost in the first round in 2024 to China's Si Jiahui, praised Wu's talent and potential. 

"[Wu] has the potential to win this tournament. The long potting is as good as I've ever seen," Williams said, noting that his own stronger safety play made the difference this time.

This year's World Championship features a record 10 Chinese players. Among them, 21-year-old Lei Peifan made headlines on Saturday by defeating defending champion Kyren Wilson of England 10-9 in his debut ­appearance.

Currently ranked 39th in the world, Lei was ranked only 84th in December, but he went on to win the 2024 Scottish Open, becoming the lowest-ranked player to win a ranking title in 31 years. 

"This feeling is unbelievable. I won my first ranking title at the Scottish Open, and now my debut at the Crucible is just as special. Both moments mean a lot to me," said Lei. 

According to UK newspaper Metro, Ronnie O'Sullivan was watching on in the TNT Sports studio. He noted that how Lei won the Scottish Open in 2024 showed that he is a serious player.

"I think when he played in that tournament in Scotland he played Mark Allen in the semis and Mark was playing well," recalled O'Sullivan. 

"He was 5-3 up on this boy and he came back and won 6-5. To do that against someone like Mark Allen is unbelievable."

O'Sullivan pointed to Lei's recent strong performance, saying he's now a serious challenge for any opponent. 

He also praised the rising standard of Chinese players, noting that while some struggle, others, like Lei, prove themselves early on.