Xiaochen Zong continued his domestic domination with a dramatic 11-10 victory over Lihao Wen in last weekend’s PDC China Premier League final.
Zong staged an impressive comeback to take the title, overturning a 9-7 deficit to confirm his place in June’s BetVictor World Cup of Darts.
The 27-year-old ran out a 10-7 winner in his semi-final showdown against Qingyu Zhan, who won three of the seven league nights that took place ahead of the season-ending Play-Offs.
Zong converted a hat-trick of ton-plus checkouts on his way to victory, producing 125, 107 and 102 checkouts to topple Zhan, defying a late fightback to wrap up proceedings with a 14-darter.
The four-time World Championship qualifier then came through a compelling encounter against Wen, missing 11 match darts in the penultimate leg before keeping his cool to triumph in a decider.
Wen seized the early initiative, opening his account with a 155 finish and capitalising on his opponent’s doubling woes to establish a 5-3 cushion.
Zong responded with a terrific 140 checkout only for Wen to immediately restore his two-leg cushion with a brilliant 135 combination in leg ten.
However, Wen squandered three darts at double for a 10-7 lead which ultimately turned the tide, as Zong pinned tops before registering back-to-back 14-darters to move a leg away from glory.
Despite frittering away a host of opportunities in the penultimate leg, Zong maintained his composure in the decider, following up a 134 set-up shot by taking out 48 to add another title to his growing haul.
Wen had produced 91, 104 and 130 finishes during his semi-final success against Bin Zheng, although his exploits have earned him a World Cup return, after he featured alongside Zong in the 2023 edition.
2025 PDC China Premier League
Sunday April 20
Play-Offs
Semi-Finals
Xiaochen Zong 10-7 Qingyu Zhan
Lihao Wen 10-6 Bin Zheng
Final
Xiaochen Zong 11-10 Lihao Wen