The 2026 Masters kicked off with a major upset as UK champion Mark Selby crashed out 6–2 at Alexandra Palace on Sunday night.
Making his Masters debut, Xiao Guodong delivered a fearless, top-class performance to dismantle one of snooker’s greats. The Chinese star dominated from the start, racing into a 4–0 lead with fluent break-building before sealing the win in style with a brilliant 118 clearance.
Selby showed brief resistance after the interval, but Xiao stayed composed and ruthless when it mattered most, booking a quarter-final showdown with compatriot Wu Yize — who earlier dumped out defending champion Shaun Murphy.
A historic opening day for Chinese snooker, a new Masters winner guaranteed, and a debut to remember for Xiao Guodong.
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