Born in Suzhou, Jiangsu,[1] Xu was champion of China in 1983 and 1985.[2] He has been a member of the Chinese Olympiad team, a five times winner of the Asia Team Championship (1983–2003), the 1987 3.3 Zonal champion, the 1998 champion of China Open; the 2000–2001 champion of Asia, and was a 2002 Chess Olympiad member of Chinese team which came 5th in the final standings.