Scottish Open 2023 snooker AS IT HAPPENED – Noppon Saengkham beats John Higgins to set up Gary Wilson final

BySandrine Wyrich

Updated 17/12/2023 at 00:44 GMT

It's semi-final day at the Scottish Open! Gary Wilson is just two victories away from defending his crown in Edinburgh with Chinese star Zhou Yuelong awaiting in the last four. That match gets underway at 13:00 UK time, with four-time world champion John Higgins taking on Noppon Saengkham in the late match from 19:00. Stream top snooker action, including the Scottish Open, live on discovery+.

‘Brilliant snooker’ - Wilson makes 1000th century of 2023/24 season at Scottish Open

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR THE FINAL

Our coverage starts from 1245, as Gary Wilson and Noppon Saengkham meet for the Scottish Open title.

Scottish Open

O'Sullivan discovers opponent as World Grand Prix draw is confirmed

18/12/2023 at 12:44

CHECK OUT THE EMOTIONAL END OF THE GAME

HIGGINS 'GUTTED', BUT FULL OF PRIASE FOR SAENGKHAM

"I'm gutted but take nothing away from Noppon he was fabulous," Higgins said on Eurosport.

"The last five frames, I missed a few positional shots...but he put me under pressure because his long potting is incredible. At the end he's crying because he's made his first final so you've got to give him all the credit in the world.

"He was fabulous to get through to his first final. I don't know if Gary's watching this. Gary's a lovely bloke, but I;d love to see Noppon win. It's his first title, Gary had his first title last year. I think a lot of the snooker tour would love to see him win."

SAENGKHAM ON HIS JOURNEY TO HERE

"I've been playing ten years and people said I should give up," Saengkham said.

"I don't know who told him he should give up," O'Sullivan said.

RONNIE: 'EVERYONE IN SNOOKER WOULD LIKE NOPPON TO WIN'

"Everyone likes Gary, but he's had a win, I think everyone in snooker would like Noppon to win."

SAENGKHAM ON HIGGINS' ENCOURAGEMENT

He said: "I'm very special and he wants me to win tomorrow."

DEFENDING CHAMPION GARY WILSON WILL FACE NOPPON SAENGKHAM IN FINAL

Can't wait for the final tomorrow.

SAENGKHAM IN TEARS AFTER REACHING FIRST FINAL

Higgins classy giving him encouragement in their embrace. What a moment.

HIGGINS 3-6 SAENGKHAM

A break of 83 puts Saengkham in the final and what a fantastic performance it has been from him.

HIGGINS 3-5 SAENGKHAM (35-12)

Saengkham now has a genuine chance to win the game at this visit.

HIGGINS 3-5 SAENGKHAM (35-0)

An untypical poor positional shot ends the break for Higgins.

HIGGINS 3-5 SAENGKHAM (6-0)

Higgins given a chance after Saengkham misses a pot into the right middle. Can he take advantage?

HIGGINS 3-5 SAENGKHAM

From touching distance from going 4-1 up, Higgins is now facing the exit after Saengkham's 120.

HIGGINS 3-4 SAENGKHAM (0-66)

He is now just a frame from victory and his first ever ranking final. Will Saengkham also notch another hundred?

HIGGINS 3-4 SAENGKHAM (0-17)

He has a good chance now after sinking a long blue.

HIGGINS 3-4 SAENGKHAM

Another fine red saw Saengkham clear down to the pink and put himself two frames from victory.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (46-49)

Saengkham leaves the last red safe after taking the lead.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (46-35)

Spoke too soon again. Higgins loses position then hits the blue in when on a red and leaves his opponent with a free ball.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (30-30)

The Thai misses an easy red black off the spot and its likely to hand the frame to Higgins.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (30-22)

Even the partisan Scottish fans are enjoying this potting exhibition from Saengkham. A fine long blue and then tricky angled pot under the black help him continue the break and he looks like winning the frame now.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (30-0)

Higgins loses position and he has to settle for a 30-point lead.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (6-0)

Another good pot with awkward bridging and now Higgins has a chance.

HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM (1-0)

Stunning long pot from Higgins but he can only lay a snooker behind the green.

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HIGGINS 3-3 SAENGKHAM

Noppon gets his sixth century of the tournament and the biggest of this match so far, with 133.

HIGGINS 3-2 SAENGKHAM (0-69)

He has levelled the game now, can he get his first 100 of the match?

HIGGINS 3-2 SAENGKHAM (0-8)

Mistake by Higgins there, left a snooker behind the brown, his escape into the pack was too hard and dislodged a red leaving Saengkham with his hand on the table.

HIGGINS 3-2 SAENGKHAM

A great long pot from Saengkham and he goes onto clear up with one of the best 32 breaks you will ever see. The blue to pink was exceptional and then he rolled a pink in along the baulk cushion managing to get position for the black placed just below the middle left cushion. He nailed it with the rest to take the frame.

HIGGINS 3-1 SAENGKHAM (54-35)

Higgins with a fluke, he misses a long pot into the right baulk and then saw it roll across the cushion into the yellow pocket. He then tries to leave the black ball safe when a snooker may have been the better option.

HIGGINS 3-1 SAENGKHAM (53-35)

Just 18 points in it now after Saengkham failed to split the tricky pair of reds next to the right cushion.

HIGGINS 3-1 SAENGKHAM (53-13)

Half-century break from Higgins, but he left himself a tricky pink into the middle and hit the near jaw. Saengkham has a chance now.

HIGGINS 3-1 SAENGKHAM (0-13)

Higgins gave Saengkham the first opportunity, but he left the cue ball on a cushion and missed the ensuing black. Good chance for Higgins now.

'VINTAGE' HIGGINS WITH FANTASTIC 130

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HIGGINS 3-1 SAENGKHAM

He has to settle for 92, but that gives a clear lead for Higgins at the break and more worryingly for the Thai is that the Scot looks in peak form.

HIGGINS 2-1 SAENGKHAM (69-0)

Higgins has secured the frame again - and looks on for another ton too.

HIGGINS 2-1 SAENGKHAM (7-0)

A missed long red has given Higgins the first chance for the third time in four frames.

HIGGINS 2-1 SAENGKHAM

Century number 967 for Higgins and this one is worth 130.

‘Vintage Higgins’ - Higgins makes second century of week at Scottish Open

HIGGINS 1-1 SAENGKHAM (75-0)

Higgins has sealed the frame. How many can he get now?

HIGGINS 1-1 SAENGKHAM (25-0)

Higgins in amongst the balls and well-placed to win the frame at this visit.

HIGGINS 1-1 SAENGKHAM

A third marvellous long pot into the bottom right corner secures the frame, and he goes on to make a break of 63.

HIGGINS 1-0 SAENGKHAM (0-68)

Another fine long pot sets Saengkham up to win the second frame but he misses the blue which would have put it well out of reach. As it is, Higgins needs a snooker.

HIGGINS 1-0 SAENGKHAM (0-47)

A good break of 47 and he ends by once more Saengkham leaves Higgins a touching ball. Not quite as difficult this time.

HIGGINS 1-0 SAENGKHAM (0-7)

Saengkham goes for another long pot and this time he rockets it in the middle of the pocket.

HIGGINS 1-0 SAENGKHAM

Another poor safety from Saengkham left Higgins one more chance and added another 31 to seal the opener.

HIGGINS 0-0 SAENGKHAM (53-4)

The home favourite made a break of 33 to put himself in control of the frame, if not over the finishing line.

HIGGINS 0-0 SAENGKHAM (27-4)

Once in a lifetime problem for Higgins as he was touching two reds and having to play away gave away a foul. However, Saengkham missed the free ball and Higgins should do some damage now.

HIGGINS 0-0 SAENGKHAM (16-0)

Higgins was back at the table after another erratic shot from his opponent - and attempted swerve off the cushion - and now Scot was amongst the balls, but somehow fell out of position.

HIGGINS 0-0 SAENGKHAM (4-0)

Saengkham with a risky attempted red so Higgins had the first chance at the table, but he lost position after nearly going in-off the green.

HIGGINS 0-0 SAENGKHAM

We're underway...

1900 - O'SULLIVAN ON NOPPON

"He's unpredictable," O'Sullivan said on Eurosport. "You think he's lining up the wrong shot.

"You leave it thinking 'he's not gonna go for it, and then he gets it.'"

1855 - BOTH PLAYERS REACHED SEMI WITH 5-3 WIN

Higgins edged Tom Ford, while Saengkham overcame Sanderson Lam.

1850 - WE CAN ONLY HOPE THIS LIVES UP TO FIRST SEMI

Gary Wilson came back from the brink of defeat (twice) to down Zhou Yuelong earlier, can we match the drama tonight?

1845 - HELLO AND WELCOME!

Thanks for joining us for coverage of the second semi-final of the Scottish Open where local favourite John Higgins takes on Noppon Saengkham.

MORE TO COME LATER ON!

Thanks for your company during this match. That's it for now, but the second semi-final is just over an hour away. Local hero John Higgins is facing Noppon Saengkham from 7pm onwards and it's promising to be a cracker!

GARY WILSON POST-MATCH INTERVIEW

'This happens once in a blue moon that you play matches like that where you think you've lost, you always try and you always hope, but you kinda know deep down that you've lost. And every now and again something silly happens and I managed to do something. I was absolutely over the moon.

'You zone in and you concentrate and try to just take it one shot at a time. I felt like I was struggling to get any kind of run; I wasn't playing well, don't get us wrong, I was struggling to get anything easy. I thought, surely something has got to turn a little bit somewhere. And I felt that towards the end, it was starting to a little bit.

'I thought I have to attack because if I keep fudging around, he's going to keep finding a way to nick one in and make a break. I thought I've got to go for things, if I get it, I'll make a break, if I don't, fair play, it hasn't been my day. But yeah, over the moon. I don't know what happened there, but to win is unbelievable.'

WILSON 6-5 ZHOU

Well, it won't go down in history as the highest quality semi-final ever, but dramatic it sure was! It looked Yuelong's for the taking at one point, but Gary fought right back and made the comeback complete. And what a way to do it with a re-spotted black in the decider!

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (79-72)

16 hits on black later, Gary picks up the resulting chance and just about finds centre right to sink it and take the frame - the comeback is complete!

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (72-72)

Best chance yet! Yuelong on the long ball, but it bounces on bottom right.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (72-72)

Attempt missed from Yuelong. Gary can't make anything off it though either.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (72-72)

One attempt from Gary so far, but it was a missed one. He did bring it to a safety position though.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (72-72)

Safeties all around for now.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (72-72)

Can you believe it? We're going to a re-spotted black.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (72-72)

Gary now sinks blue and follows up with pink as well. And black too.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (54-72)

Foul points again as Yuelong can't find blue. Gary tries to pot it in return, but can't make it.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (49-72)

There are the foul points as Gary snookers Yuelong and the latter misses brown. Instead, Gary sinks brown and places the next snooker.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (41-72)

Long ball on green and it falls for Yuelong. The celebratory fist follows - that might have been it although no further score follows for now!

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (41-69)

Was it intentional? Several times off the cushion and the yellow just about falls for Gary. An ironic thumbs-up follows as he finds himself snookered.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (39-69)

Gary is trying, but so far he can't create anything that Yuelong doesn't find a way out of. Foul points remain elusive for now.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (32-69)

The snookers haven't been effective so far, so Gary pots the red now and tries again with the colours.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (31-69)

One red left on the table and now Gary goes for the snooker. So far, Yuelong is unimpressed.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (8-69)

Not the best split from Gary, but he sinks a tricky red and gets the placement on black as well. Mind he needs at least one snooker here to turn the frame around.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (1-69)

Once more, the players are trading safeties. Gary this time finds a way out.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (0-69)

He's done it the hard way with some off placements, but that's the frame ball for Yuelong. There's nowhere to go from here though and he opts for a safety.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (0-40)

It's been going well for Yuelong, but now his positioning lets him down. He saves himself for now though with a neat ball past blue to give himself more options.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (0-9)

Nicely done by Yuelong who now has access to black from both sides.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU (0-1)

The opening has been a long time coming, but Yuelong finds it after an error from Gary who hit with too much force.

WILSON 5-5 ZHOU

Glimpses of brilliance from both players here, but eventually, Gary capitalises after a remarkable long ball to take it and equalise - we're going all the way, folks, decider coming up!

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (72-33)

Clearance from Gary and he takes the frame.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (54-33)

Excellent break from Gary, even mastering a red nestled against the cushion, and there's the frame ball as brown falls.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (19-33)

We find ourselves in a prolonged safety duel again and Gary finds a way out of it with a brilliant long shot to bottom right.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (18-33)

Tricky shot and the rest is out for Yuelong, but he catches the red thin and angles it into bottom right. He subsequently misses pink though.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (18-32)

And that's the end of that for now as Yuelong misses the red combination. No opening for Gary either though who misses his attempt.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (18-21)

Very brave play from Yuelong and it pays off. Initially, it looked like there weren't any options to turn this into a considerable break, but Yuelong is working some magic here. This is very hard work though!

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (18-9)

Very long ball from Gary and he makes the opening. He has options from there but misses a routine red. Yuelong gladly picks up.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (13-8)

Never mind. Yuelong finds a way to hit the red at an angle and sinks it in bottom right for an opening. He has a position on yellow as a result, but there's nowhere much to go from there. Safety it is.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (13-5)

Gary plays blue with force and gets the split. No foul this time straight away, but when he goes on to sink a red, the cue ball follows suit and he does give away foul points after all. At least there's no obvious opener left.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU (1-1)

Yuelong with the opening, but he subsequently misses black on a routine shot. Looks like a nerves issue. Even worse, he leaves Gary an opening.

WILSON 4-5 ZHOU

Gary looked a different player from the previous frames: neat shots and positioning and absolutely no stopping him. The good news for Yuelong is, he didn't do anything much wrong in that frame, he simply never got a chance at the table.

WILSON 3-5 ZHOU (122-0)

He misses the placement on black for the last shot, but it doesn't matter. That's the Gary from the semi-final right there - excellent break and the century for the frame in less than nine minutes.

WILSON 3-5 ZHOU (67-0)

Hard to believe that's the same player as the last couple of frames ... Gary with the frame ball now after just five minutes of play.

WILSON 3-5 ZHOU (1-0)

That's more like it from Gary. He sees a chance for an unreal long opening (playing the cue ball long, hitting the red on the right thin and navigating it into bottom left) and makes it. He has options from here.

WILSON 3-5 ZHOU

So frustrating for Gary. He did all the work there with an excellent split, but the foul red would haunt him. Yuelong stepped up to reap the rewards instead.

WILSON 3-4 ZHOU (9-82)

Miss on brown, but the frame is Yuelong's.

WILSON 3-4 ZHOU (9-68)

The positioning is not quite there for Yuelong, but he keeps getting away with it. Frame ball for him now.

WILSON 3-4 ZHOU (9-6)

Big risk from Gary and it looked good until it didn't. He sinks blue with force and gets the split, but a red sneaks into bottom left. Yuelong picks up an opening from there.

WILSON 3-4 ZHOU (1-0)

Not the easiest opening, but Gary makes the long ball into bottom left.

WILSON 3-4 ZHOU

Not the prettiest frame ever but an interesting one tactically. However, neither player is at their best, possibly some nerves sneaking in, and there's a lot of mistakes.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (77-52)

Gary sneaks pink into the top left-hand corner - it took its time to fall! - and takes the frame.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (71-52)

Yuelong makes blue but has no position on pink. Neither does Gary.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (71-47)

Gary sinks brown, but narrowly misses blue.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (67-47)

Foul points again for Gary, and two sets of them as well. He sees a chance on green for himself which would probably have decided the frame, but he misses on centre right. Yuelong steps up and sinks green, but he subsequently misses brown.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (59-44)

Slack positioning from Gary - he can play yellow but has no option on green afterwards. He lays a snooker behind brown.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (44-44)

Jinxed it again. Yuelong attempts black on the bottom left-hand corner, it bounces about and doesn't fall. There's an opening left for Gary as well.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (43-44)

Nice break from Yuelong, despite some slack placement, so far and he takes the lead.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (43-6)

Much better from Gary with some decent shots and neat placements, but just when you think he's got it, there's a miss on the right centre. Yuelong takes the invite and sinks a red - he has options from here.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (2-5)

Long ball and red into the bottom right-hand pocket for Gary. There's some options from here - let's see what he makes of them.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU (1-5)

When it rains it pours for Gary. He finds an opening, but when he tries to play blue next, he sinks the cue ball as well and gives away five foul points. On the upside, there's nothing to do for Yuelong either and we're back to playing safeties.

WILSON 2-4 ZHOU

Scrappy would be the word to describe this match. Both players are fairly error-prone and largely unable to put together sustained breaks. The difference in the standings is largely down to Gary so far giving away chances to capitalise on mistakes from his opponent.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-76)

Yuelong ends the frame with a foul, but it's immaterial as he takes it home anyway.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-58)

Frame ball now from Yuelong.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-43)

Too thin on the red following a placement error from Yuelong and there's the miss. Gary - looking increasingly frustrated - misses the combination though and can't capitalise. Subsequently, Yuelong finds a red to pot.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-13)

Tough shot on pink and Yuelong plays it with a lot of force as well to try get the split. He misses, but the good news is that he doesn't leave Gary an opening. Indeed, an error from Gary invites Yuelong back to the table and he sinks a red.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-3)

Misses from both players as they search an opening. Yuelong finaly makes it though and he has some options to take from here.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-2)

Safety duel and again it's Yuelong who rides it out and plays a magnificent long red into the top right-hand corner. There's nowhere much to go from here though and we're back to safeties.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (9-1)

And the snooker works nicely for Gary who collects two sets of foul points.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (1-1)

Gary capitalises, but he doesn't have any placements for anything and opts for a snooker, nestling the cue ball behind brown.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU (0-1)

Very quick and very nice opening for Yuelong who scores after a long ball. He misses his subsequent attempt on green though.

WILSON 2-3 ZHOU

Some very nice shots here and there, but overall, both players struggle to put together sustained breaks. Again, Gary gave things away with an error when he tried to play the red as a double. Yuelong was there to capitalise once more.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-98)

Yuelong clears the table and takes the frame.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-66)

Decent break and the frame ball for Yuelong now, but he too is rescuing himself from shot to shot and making things more difficult than he needs to with some off placments.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-43)

Once more, Yuelong rides out the safety duel and finds a very nice opening, hitting the red thin and, pretty much blindly, directing it towards the bottom left-hand corner.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-42)

Foul points for Yuelong as Gary sinks the cue ball. Not the worst outcome for Gary though as leaving an opening was very much on the cards.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-38)

That's the end of that particular break as Yuelong catches the red and is left without an option. He goes for a safety.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-22)

Yuelong rides out the safety duel and capitalises when he's left a glimpse of an opening. Crucially, he gets the cue ball placed on black as well.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (34-22)

Jinxed it. There's a miss for Gary, but at least he doesn't leave an obvious opening.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (27-22)

Gary with the lead now and on a run, but he's making life difficult for himself with some off placements that result in tough shots. Still, he's mastered it so far.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (1-22)

Error from Yuelong, hitting the red too hard and instead of nestling it against the cushion, it comes off it and collides with the cue ball again. This leaves an opening for Gary.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU (0-22)

Yuelong is looking for the split, playing blue and going via the cushion, but it's not to be. He opts for a safety instead.

WILSON 2-2- ZHOU (0-1)

Very long search for an opening here, but a mediocre safety from Gary leaves Yuelong a long ball to the bottom left-hand corner.

WILSON 2-2 ZHOU

Such an important frame for Gary just there. He looked absolutely rattled early on, that miss in Frame 3 probably haunting him, but he was back to looking sublime during that late break there. In contrast, Yuelong will be kicking himself because he gave that frame away with an error in positioning that caused a miss.

All square at the mid-session break and all to play for when we come back.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (95-18)

Miss on black and thus no century, but the frame is Gary's.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (72-18)

Frame ball for Gary who gets the rest out to sink the red in the bottom left-hand corner.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (36-18)

Better from Gary now. He does nothing much spectacular, but he plays the simple shots well which hasn't always been the case here. Crucially, he gets the split with a nice shot and gives himself some options.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (8-18)

Miss from Yuelong and he leaves an opening for Gary. The red bounces on the bottom right-had corner but just about decides to go in.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (7-5)

Conventional points now finally as Yuelong makes a long ball for an opening.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (7-4)

Foul points going Yuelong's way now as Gary misses on scoring the red and sinks the cue ball instead. He's looking rather rattled here.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU (7-0)

Foul points for Gary as Yuelong misses the red and hits the black instead.

WILSON 1-2 ZHOU

That third frame frankly wasn't it from either Gary or Yuelong. The thing that stands out is a pretty shocking miss from Gary that gave away the frame - this could be a tough one to get out of his head.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (55-59)

Total clearance from Yuelong and the frame is his

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (55-18)

Yuelong is left an opening and he makes it. On paper, this now looks a very doable frame for him.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (55-17)

Miss on the black from Gary as it bounces off the bottom right-hand pocket. Very much a routine shot and he looks pretty appalled with himself and literally bites his queue.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (25-17)

Combination for an opening from Gary and it's a very neat one that also opens up the other reds.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (24-17)

Placement error now from Gary as the cue ball catches the pink. He opts for a safety.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (6-17)

Nice split from Yuelong, but he misses on a red at the right centre pocket. Even worse, he leaves an opening for Gary.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU (5-1)

Gary finds an opening, but there's nowhere much to go and Yuelong takes over.

WILSON 1-1 ZHOU

Again, some moments of brilliance there. Astonishingly, Gary absolutely without a chance in this second frame.

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU (0-106)

Yuelong takes the frame with a century - the 200th of his career.

Zhou makes 200th career century and fifth of Scottish Open

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU (0-70)

Frame ball now for Yuelong.

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU (0-38)

Brilliant work from Yuelong who makes the split and gives himself plenty of options.

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU (0-1)

Neat opening fro Yuelong and he has options from here.

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU (0-0)

Amusement all around as there's coughing from a spectator and Gary offers his glass of water. Lovely moment.

'It's that time of year!' - Wilson kindly offers water to someone in crowd

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU (0-0)

Snookered again, Yuelong has to go via the cushion at least once as the cue ball sits behind brown. He makes it though at the first try and doesn't leave an opening.

WILSON 1-0 ZHOU

Not the flying start Gary had yesterday, but he did show some sublime play in that opening frame again. So has Yuelong in parts, to be fair, but both players look to have some nerves creeping in today.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (81-32)

Miss on the red but it doesn't matter for Gary who takes the frame home.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (75-32)

Gary back on the table and that's the frame ball.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (60-32)

Some nerves and errors now creeping in. Yuelong escapes the snooker situation but leaves an opening for Gary. Astonishingly though, he misses and leaves an opening for Yuelong instead. He too misses though.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (60-32)

Here's Gary now continuing where he left things off in the semi-final yesterday with a great points haul. However, his placement is a bit off and he opts to snooker Yuelong instead.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (26-32)

Off the bank and hit the red thin for an opening from Gary - very nicely done!

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (25-32)

Make that six misses. Basically, the cue ball is nestled against - and behind - brown and green and Yuelong has to go via the cushion twice. So far, he's either been missing force on the cue ball or missed the line. Finally, he just about reaches the red. Safeties again now.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (9-32)

Two misses for Yuelong, foul points for Gary now who has his opponent well snookered.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (1-32)

There's a miss now from Yuelong as the red bounces on the left centre pocket - he will be annoyed with that. Even worse, he leaves an opening for Gary, but there's nowhere to go from there and we're on safeties now.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU (0-8)

A quick opening emerges for Yuelong and he has options from there.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU

Some stats before we start - Gary and Yuelong have played each other three times so far, the former winning two of these encounters. They're both on equal form, having won the most recent four of their last five matches.

WILSON 0-0 ZHOU

We're in for an exciting semi-final between two players whose quarter-final fates could not have been any more different. While Gary Wilson looked absolutely immaculate versus Chris Wakelin and won in five straight frames, Zhou Yuelong prevailed in a marathon match with Stuart Bingham. Although he was up 4-1 at one point, the momentum shifted and proceedings went all the way to a decider. Of course, it's all back to zero now - we're playing best of 11.

GOOD AFTERNOON!

Hello and welcome back to our live text coverage of the Scottish Open 2023. It's semi-finals time at the Meadowbanks Sports Centre, Edinburgh and we are minutes away from kicking things of with the first match of the day as title defender Gary Wilson takes on Yuelong Zhou. Coming up later on from 7pm, local hero John Higgins is facing Noppon Saengkham.

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Scottish Open