David Gilbert makes 147 as Xiao Guodong books spot in Championship League final group with Judd Trump and Mark Selby
By Desmond Kane
Updated 25/01/2025 at 23:43 GMT
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David Gilbert was edged out in his bid to reach the Championship League winners' group in Leicester despite making the third 147 break of his career at the invitational event. Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong continued his fine form this season by edging his decider against Gilbert to join Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, Si Jiahui and Matthew Selt in the final group next month.
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David Gilbert produced the third 147 break of his career at the Championship League in Leicester on Saturday, but was edged out by Xiao Guodong in his quest to reach the event's winners' group.
The two-time World Championship semi-finalist produced the maximum in his 3-1 win over Zhou Yuelong on his way to finishing fourth in Group 7 behind section winner Ricky Walden, Xiao and Noppon Saengkham.
It was the 211th 147 in the modern history of the sport and the ninth of the season.
It came after Joe O'Connor and Jack Lisowski both agonisingly missed blacks on 140 earlier in the week in their maximum attempts.
Gilbert, who made the sport's 147th 147 in 2019 as his second maximum, finished off with a break of 135 in a 3-2 win over Walden in the semi-finals, with Xiao making two centuries as he eased past Noppon 3-0.
The Group 7 final was another heavy-scoring affair with Gilbert producing a 69 and 101 to level at 2-2, but it was Wuhan Open winner Xiao who completed the 3-2 victory with a closing 59 after compiling 65 in the second frame.
The winners' group for the invitational version of the Championship League has now been completed, with Xiao set to join world No. 1 Judd Trump, world champion Kyren Wilson, defending champion Mark Selby and Matthew Selt to compete for the trophy on February 4-5.
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Gilbert returns to action against Ben Woollaston in the first round of the German Masters in Berlin on Monday night live on Eurosport and discovery+.
World No. 17 Xiao opens his campaign against compatriot Fan Zhengyi on Tuesday afternoon at the Tempodrom in the round of 64.
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Stream top snooker action, including the German Masters on discovery+
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