So … we have Gary Wilson vs Noppon Saengkham in the final today in Edinburgh. I’m not sure anyone expected that, but I’m happy with it!
Here are the reports by WST:
Wilson Overhauls Zhou In Epic Decider
Defending champion Gary Wilson came from requiring three snookers in the deciding frame to beat China’s Zhou Yuelong 6-5 and reach the BetVictor Scottish Open final in Edinburgh.
It had appeared that Zhou was set to run out the victor in the final frame after an opening break of 69. Wilson edged himself back into contention, but when Zhou potted the green he punched the air after leaving his opponent requiring three snookers to win. Wilson got one of them on the brown and another on the blue to give himself the opportunity of a re-spotted black, which he took. Eventually Zhou spurned a chance and Wilson deposited the black to the middle pocket to seal an unlikely victory.
Zhou had seized control of the encounter this afternoon after breaks of 106, 56 and 77 helped him to establish a 5-3 advantage. However, world number 20 Wilson dug deep and composed contributions of 122 and 54 to force what would prove to be the most dramatic of deciders.
Victory sees Wilson make the fourth ranking final of his career, where he will have the chance to claim a second title. The Wallsend cueman lifted the Stephen Hendry Trophy here 12 months ago when he thrashed Joe O’Connor 9-2 in the final. He now awaits either Scotland’s four-time World Champion John Higgins or Thai number one Noppon Saengkham.
Defeat comes will be a bitter blow for Zhou, who remains without silverware on his professional resume. He’s now appeared in six ranking semi-finals and three finals without taking home the title.
“I’m shocked. Absolutely shocked. I’m shaking like a leaf here. It was just one of those crazy games. It wasn’t a great game. I was really struggling technically. I just fought and fought,” said 38-year-old Wilson.
“I’ve been there. I’ve had plenty of opportunities in the past that I’ve squandered to go on and win an event. I think there are some players that have to go through that. I’ve got the upmost respect for Zhou. He’s got bottle as well. I’m not questioning that. The phenomenal players win tournaments and those that are trying to get one have to sometimes go through that and sometimes it is your turn. It will be his turn soon enough.
“You are going through it. At the end it was just a release. I was so pent up that when I potted the last black I was just delighted to win a game like that for a change. It doesn’t happen very often.”
The decider was sheer nail-biting stuff. I don’t know of any other sport that can create such drama.
Here is the end of the match:
Noppon Saengkham 6-3 John Higgins
Saengkham Surge Downs Higgins
Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham went on a five frame blitz to beat home favourite John Higgins 6-3 and reach his first ever ranking event final at the BetVictor Scottish Open in Edinburgh.
World number 26 Saengkham has come close to earning a shot at snooker glory on several occasions. He agonisingly fell short in all four of his ranking event semi-final appearances to date at the 2018 Welsh Open, 2018 World Open, 2022 British Open and the 2023 World Grand Prix.
Saengkham’s first final sees him pitted against defending champion Gary Wilson, who came through a thrilling re-spotted black in the decider to beat Zhou Yuelong 6-5 earlier. The title match will be played over the best of 17 frames with the winner receiving £80,000 and the Stephen Hendry Trophy.
If Saengkham were to win tomorrow he would be come the third Thai player to win a ranking title, following in the footsteps of the legendary James Wattana and current tour contemporary Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Defeat sees 31-time ranking event winner Higgins continue his quest for a maiden Scottish Open title. The Glaswegian was runner-up in 2016 to Marco Fu and 2021 to Luca Brecel. Higgins also lost a semi-final to Neil Robertson back in 2017.
It was Higgins who delighted a packed crowd in the early stages to gain a stranglehold on proceedings. Breaks of 130 and 92 helped him into a 3-1 advantage ahead of the mid-session interval. However, when play resumed Saengkham took charge.
An incredible clearance of 32 saw him take the fifth on the black to make it 3-2, before a century break of 133 restored parity at 3-3. He claimed a tight seventh and then fired in runs of 120 and 83 to wrap up a landmark 6-3 victory. After getting over the line, Saengkham was in tears and was embraced by Higgins as the pair received a standing ovation from the packed out arena.
“When I was 3-1 down I just had a 15 minute break. I felt nervous and went back to talk with my wife and little Believe (his daughter). I knew it could either happen again and I could lose in another semi-final or I could win today. I just tried to stay in the game and control something. I did it today,” said 31-year-old Saengkham. “Tomorrow anything can happen. If it can be my day, then it will be very good for me.
“John said that I was special, that he hopes I win tomorrow and that I can do it. I can’t really remember as I was so happy at that time.”
Higgins said: “I’m gutted because I’d dearly have loved to have won it here. Take nothing away from Noppon. He was fabulous in the last five frames. I know I missed a few positional shots, I should have went 4-1 in front and ran out of position. He put me under pressure. His long potting was incredible. At the end he was crying and it is his first final. You have to give him all of the credit in the world. I know Gary is a lovely boy but I’d love to see Noppon win. It would be his first title and Gary had his first here last year.”
I can’t comment on that match as I didn’t watch it (yet). I have to confess that I didn’t expect Noppon to win, but I’m delighted he did. I’m not a fan of John Higgins. When I watch him play, I do admire his skills, but, for some reason I don’t understand myself, he bores me. And, also, no matter how long it has been since, I can’t forget what I saw and heard on “that night” at the Crucible in 2010.
Today, Noppon will compete in his first final, Gary will try to defend his maiden title. I can’t remember anyone doing this. There is a lot at stake for both. Whoever wins, I will be happy for him and sorry for his opponent.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
so what exactly did you see with your own eyes in 2010? nobody can quite agree what happened it seems
I saw the video as initially published. I saw Steve Davis in tears because he thought the sponsors would run away, I saw Barry Hearn calling an emergency meeting with Fred Donne (Fred fortunately assured he wasn’t going to withdraw his support). And I knew at the time that Pat Mooney was in charge of developing the game in Eastern Europe. Those were probably not exhibitions discussed there, that was about the future PTCs in the region. They did not just agree to fix matches, they agreed to try to get more players on board too. Pat Mooney and Higgins were associates in the “World Series”, a great idea but that hadn’t worked as planned. They had debts. And I saw Graeme Dott’s reaction after he finished his semi-final. He immediately distanced himself from them both. Pat Mooney was his manager. And I will add this: if Higgins was scared out there as they were discussing the best way to “justify” that money, he’s missed a career in acting. He was all smiles.
but it wasn’t actually a Ukrainian mafia operation was it? it was all a scam set up by a tabloid right?
Yes, it was a scam. But we didn’t know that when it first came out. It was a real shock in the media room. And even if it was a scam, it late transpired that the Notw had been “tipped” about the whole thing and one question that was never answered was who tipped them, an what were they trying to achieve with that scam. One theory was that this was an attempt to discredit Barry Hearn and his board. Pat Mooney was a member of it and John Higgins, although he had lost, was still the reigning World Champion.