Guodong vs Zhao Xintong Prediction

Let's recap: Xiao Guodong clinched the tournament in Wuhan earlier this season, marking his second consecutive victory there. After that, it seemed like he disappeared from the spotlight, as he usually didn't stay in tournaments for long. Now, in Hong Kong, Guodong has reached the semifinals. The connection between his play and the venue is evident. But can he claim the title?

Kyren Wilson, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Si Jiahui. No, this isn't a snooker players' party-it's the list of opponents Xiao has defeated in the Grand Prix. It's worth noting that these were three matches of comparable quality. He displayed impressive consistency and excellent shot accuracy. His stats were a bit weaker against Kyren Wilson. However, in the quarterfinal against Jiahui, there were no doubts: four half-centuries and one century break. His shot accuracy was at an impressive 88 percent.

Once again, let's talk about Zhao. A prime name, but in reality, he has yet to live up to expectations. This season has been challenging, and only the paycheck from Saudi Arabia suggests otherwise. Zhao hasn't won any ranking tournaments and hasn't even reached a final. He seems to have everything he needs, yet something is still missing. It’s probably the best way to put it. We're dealing with one of the strongest players of our time who has yet to unlock his full potential.

Meanwhile, Xintong clinched victory in his last two matches in deciding frames, outplaying both Mark Selby and Chris Wakelin. Against Selby, the Chinese player rallied from 1-4 down, and with Wakelin, he almost lost despite leading 4-1. The final frame of the quarterfinal match was extremely tense as well. Here’s the risky part: Xintong went from statistically perfect against Selby to a subpar performance against Wakelin, with a shot accuracy that didn't exceed 60 percent.