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Xiao took just over 45 minutes to complete the final, easing passed Gilbert who had been in fine form during the group. The Tamworth man had topped the round-robin phase group table with five wins from six, his only defeat a 3-2 reversal against Xiao which included his maiden 147. Gilbert's perfect break was the 114th maximum in snooker history and ninth of the season.
2013 Shanghai Masters finalist Xiao had registered a 3-0 win over Fergal O'Brien in his semi-final while Gilbert had come from behind to defeat Mark Williams 3-1.
"This group was the first time I have played in the Championship League, and I am delighted to win the group," said China's Xiao, who takes home £6,300 with a chance to add to that in the big-money Winners' Group.
"David played very well and will be disappointed not to win and his 147 showed how well he had been playing.
"There were some tough matches against top players in this group but I expect the Winners' Group will be even more difficult. I am looking forward to it."
Xiao joins previous group winners Barry Hawkins, Matthew Selt, Ali Carter, Stuart Bingham, Mark Davis and Ben Woollaston in the Winners' Group, which is played over Wednesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 12.
Results
The Final
David Gilbert 0-3 Xiao Guodong
45-82, (Gilbert 45, Guodong 50), 0-79 (78), 34-80 (Gilbert 34, Guodong 30)
Semi-Finals
Fergal O'Brien 0-3 Xiao Guodong
29-73 (72), 41-66 (O'Brien 34, Xiao 30), 8-58 (36)
David Gilbert 3-1 Mark Williams
0-108 (33, 75), 85-0 (40), 70-0 (67), 69-29 (63)
Group Results
David Gilbert 3-0 John Higgins
107-0 (107), 112-9 (55), 77-10 (62)
Peter Ebdon 3-1 Xiao Guodong
50-69 (Ebdon 49, Xiao 36, 33), 120-0 (120), 68-37 (48), 60-17 (58)
Dominic Dale 0-3 Xiao Guodong
19-93 (37, 46), 13-80, 43-65 (52)
Fergal O'Brien 2-3 Mark Williams
49-78 (O'Brien 37, Williams 41), 83-0 (47), 18-73 (73), 59-44 (Williams 34), 12-60 (56)
Peter Ebdon 3-0 John Higgins
74-19 (58), 72-28 (62), 60-58 (Ebdon 33, Higgins 57)
David Gilbert 3-2 Mark Williams
1-70 (30), 65-46 (Gilbert 43, Williams 46), 8-105 (98), 60-40 (39), 61-53 (Gilbert 54, Williams 53)
Dominic Dale 0-3 John Higgins
27-86 (50), 0-136 (136), 59-72 (Dale 37, Higgins 46)
Dave Gilbert 2-3 Xiao Guodong
32-68 (67), 69-25 (68), 147-0 (147), 4-79 (53), 25-75 (75)
Peter Ebdon 2-3 Fergal O'Brien
50-9, 0-71, 64-12 (53), 22-56, 30-57 (36)
Centuries
147 - Dave Gilbert v Xiao Guodong
136 - John Higgins v Dominic Dale
125 - Dominic Dale v David Gilbert
123 - Fergal O'Brien v John Higgins
121 - John Higgins v Xiao Guodong
120 - Peter Ebdon v Xiao Guodong
107 - David Gilbert v John Higgins
105 - Peter Ebdon v Dominic Dale
100 - David Gilbert v Fergal O'Brien
100 - David Gilbert v Pete Ebdon
