He gained his first GM norm at the 2009 Sydney International Open, tying =1st (2nd on tiebreak) with 3 other GMs.

[4] He came equal first with Aleksandar Wohl in the 2009 Australian Open Chess Championship held in Manly, Sydney.

Xie's next major tournament in the same year was the 48th Doeberl Cup held in Canberra, Australia.

In the tournament, Xie managed to share a point with Li Chao and defeated the 2010 Australian Chess Champion Zhao Zong-Yuan.

In January 2011, Xie defended his title in the Australian Open Chess Championship 2011 which he won two years earlier.