Xiao Guodong will no doubt be hoping the Chinese takeaway restaurants in Sheffield are up to scratch as the snooker star gears up for this year's . Xiao, who is ranked 14th in the world, will come up against qualifier Matthew Selt in the first round.

The Chinese potter has enjoyed a stellar season on tour, reaching the semi-final of four ranking events, as well as winning the Wuhan Open back in October. While he's an outside bet for the title, Xiao has shown on several occasions he can spring a surprise, perhaps most notably beating Mark Allen 6-3 in the Champion of Champions semi-final last year.

And it was at that event in Bolton where Xiao revealed the secret to his success is a gluttonous diet of Chinese takeaway meals. "We have to eat food. In the UK, sometimes we have to buy Chinese takeaway from restaurants. My friend got some food. He came here. That's why before the match I ate a little bit. But anyway, it doesn't matter before a match if you eat a lot."

The 37-year-old, who, alongside his four semi-final appearances, has also reached four quarter-finals this season, has had to battle hard to establish himself as a worthwhile competitor on the snooker tour. , he explained: "I came into London Heathrow in September 2007, it was very cold. Back then, we didn't make a lot of money, not like now. I couldn't speak English. The only thing I could say was 'thank you' and 'OK'.

"It wasn't like a new country, it was like a new world! I had to cook for myself, it was the first time I'd left my family. To speak to my parents, I had to buy a phone card. Not like now with the internet. It was very hard."

Commenting on how that has since changed, he added: "Now it's a perfect time. Ding has his snooker academy in Sheffield. There's an app where you can pay for food in RMB [Chinese currency] without cash. You can talk to Chinese friends and family. This moment, they come here at a very good time."

The World Championship gets underway on Saturday morning when reigning champion Kyren Wilson takes on Xiao's countryman, Lei Peifan, in the opening match at the Crucible. Xiao's World Championship campaign begins on Sunday when he faces off against Selt.