Scottish Open 2023 snooker as it happened – John Higgins beats Tom Ford after wins for Gary Wilson and Zhou Yuelong

Updated 15/12/2023 at 22:32 GMT

It's quarter-final day at the Scottish Open! First up, Stuart Bingham takes on Zhou Yuelong before defending champion Gary Wilson takes on Chris Wakelin in an all-English showdown. Then tonight, tournament headliner John Higgins takes on Tom Ford, while Sanderson Lam gets his first taste of a ranking event quarter-final as he meets Noppon Saengkham. Stream top snooker action on discovery+.

'Phenomenal achievement' - Murphy makes first maximum 147 break at Shoot Out

That's all from me!

Right, thanks for joining me for a thoroughly entertaining and absorbing evening of snooker! We'll be back to bring you the semi-final action tomorrow, kicking off our coverage at 12.45pm. See you there!

Scottish Open

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

18/12/2023 at 12:44

The semi-final line-up

That Saengkham vs Higgins match will be the latter of the two last-four matches, getting underway at 7pm tomorrow and over the best of 11 frames.

Before then, we'll have defending champion Gary Wilson taking on Zhou Yuelong, who edged past Stuart Bingham earlier. That one gets underway at 1pm.

Saengkham 5-3 Lam (70-13)

And that's it! Saengkham cuts a red into the left middle and Sanderson Lam offers his hand! Noppon is through with a 5-3 victory, to face John Higgins in the semi-final tomorrow

Saengkham 4-3 Lam (69-13)

It's match over now, though! Lam's safety shot is poor, as he stands a red over the right corner. 56 ahead, 43 left on. Lam does come back to the table, but surely his hopes are forlorn

Saengkham 4-3 Lam (68-13)

Saengkham plays on one of the two reds on the top cushion, the one that's a couple of inches out in the open. He slides it home and adds the black. Snookers required, if that next one goes in. Which it does, wriggling home. There's not pot on the black, because he simply made sure of the pot, but 55 the lead with 51 left on the table

Saengkham 4-3 Lam (*59-13)

And that winning line is moving into sight, with a lead of 56 and only five reds left on the table. However, those reds aren't particularly well placed. Two are on the top cushion, two are next to each other to the left of the pink spot, and the fifth is up towards the baulk line

Saengkham 4-3 Lam (43-13)

Lam doesn't make the most of the opportunity though. He pots the red that's been left for him and adds the blue, but then misses pretty badly to the yellow pocket. Noppon comes back to the table and has a very good chance to put this one to bet

Saengkham 4-3 Lam (43-7)

Okay, after the conclusion of that match, we move on to last quarter-final tie that is still to be decided. Saengkham is looking very handy at the moment, but he's just played a pretty wretched safety shot that leaves his opponent at the table

Higgins: "It would be amazing to try and win it here"

Here's what the victor has to say, then. "I felt I played really well to go 3-0 in front, and then in the fourth frame, I had a bit of a malfunction on one of the reds. I'm just trying to go some sort of process when I'm playing, but then it obviously went 3-1, and Tom put my under pressure to go 3-3.

"I wasn't getting really clear-cut chances. It was half chances. The seventh frame was a big one, because he missed a couple of balls where he could have got on top. Luckily, I've managed to win that frame, and then finished it off okay.

"I think I've only won one tournament ever in Scotland, so it would be amazing to try and win it here."

Analysis

A bit of analysis from the Eurosport team of Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan. The latter says "he'll be pleased with that. He went missing for a little bit, but it's important that he got his game back together for his own bit of confidence. I think that'll please him more than anything."

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 3-4 Noppon Saengkham

Higgins 5-3 Ford (85-0)

Higgins started with a century. Can he finish with one? Not quite, he misses the final red, so it's a break of 71 to finish. Hard luck to Tom Ford, who gave that everything from 3-0 down, but in the end, John found the top of his game just when he needed it

Higgins 4-3 Ford (*77-0)

Red and colour needed, red and pink delivered. Snookers needed, but Ford won't be coming back to the table. Another red makes doubly sure. Higgins' home crowd are loving this, with ever shot getting a huge round of applause

Higgins 4-3 Ford (*54-0)

The Scot is edging ever closer, and he's looking much more like the John Higgins we saw at the start of this match, as opposed to in the middle. A wonderful positional shot off the yellow brings the cue ball back to the reds to the right of the pink spot. He's getting there.

Higgins 4-3 Ford (*38-0)

The positional play isn't spot on at times, but the potting is. Higgins doesn't have the ideal potting angle on the black, so takes on they yellow into its own pocket. He then doesn't get the movement he wants off the cue ball when firing home the pink - although it only just wriggled into the pocket. A tough red, cut back into a blind pocket, is the result, but he converts it.

Higgins 4-3 Ford (*20-0)

Ford attempts a red to the left corner. There's pressure on it, and he misses by a fair distance. John isn't left anything simple, but he pots one into the left corner. Blue follows. Red spread. Can he get the job done?

Higgins 4-3 Ford (14-0)

A terrific pot with the rest now, but that'll be that for this break, as he plays safe. We've got an odd looking table, now. 12 reds left on it, 10 of the to the right of centre, while the yellow and black are off their spots

Higgins 4-3 Ford (*13-0)

This match has been played at a ferocious pace, so it's unprecedented to see the eight frame start with a drawn out safety battle. Higgins will be the first to get his hand on the table, eventually drilling home a tough red, followed by a blue. The balls don't look great for him, but if he can the black back on its spot, it'll be a great chance

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 2-4 Noppon Saengkham

Higgins 4-3 Ford (66-25)

Higgins finally puts the frame to bed as Ford leaves him that final red to the green pocket. He adds the green and misses the yellow, but it makes no difference. He's one frame for the final, but it still feels like a struggle

Higgins 3-3 Ford (62-25)

Crikey; when your luck's in! Higgins attempts to pot that final red and misses by a significant distance (that right corner again!). However, a double kiss leaves Ford snookered! The Leicester potter shares a wry smile with his opponent, before escaping with a hit and hope that couldn't have worked out much better

Higgins 3-3 Ford (62-25)

The next visit to the table for Ford though sees him sink the penultimate red into the left middle. He adds a black, so still only one snooker required, and given where the brown is, off it's spot behind the baulk line and to the left hand side of the table, he has a good chance of setting one. However, the world no.16 over hits it

Higgins 3-3 Ford (62-17)

Higgins then plays a safety which leaves a red to the left middle for Ford. It's a very tough shot, but he pots it, and adds the pink. However, an attempted double off his next shot goes awry

Higgins 3-3 Ford (62-10)

Not the greatest positional shot follows off the resulting black, running a few inches shot on the ideal potting angle of the red. However, he still pots the ball, and then adds the black, which leaves Ford needing a snooker.

Higgins 3-3 Ford (*47-10)

Again, Higgins strides back to the table with a fairly comfortable red to open up with. Now, can he show the composure he had in the first three frames? At the moment, it's going well, including his latest shot, an excellent plant that leaves a little cluster of three available

Higgins 3-3 Ford (26-10)

This time, Ford has been left sight of a red, and he pots that smoothly. Perhaps the nerves are beginning to settle for both players, though, as after Tom pots the black and another red, he misses a green by miles

Higgins 3-3 Ford (26-1)

That's not a good shot from Ford though, as a poor safety gives Higgins a chance of a red to the right middle. He converts that, and adds the blue, but then that right corner pocket is a problem again, as he misses a red to the same jaw

Higgins 3-3 Ford (20-1)

In short, no. At length, that right corner pocket has proved a problem tonight, and he doesn't put enough angle on a red into it, catching the near jaw. Only 20 scored, but at least he doesn't leave anything for his opponent

Higgins 3-3 Ford (*14-1)

And it proves costly because Higgins can send a blind cut-back into the right corner. That's a very good pot, given how the last three frames have gone for the Scot. An excellent black follows. He's in. Can he make it count?

Higgins 3-3 Ford (0-1)

Ford continues his fine potting with a thumping long red at the start of frame seven. He then rolls the white in behind the yellow. It's a tough escape for Higgins, who's taking his time over it. Eventually, he nudges into a red on the left cushion. It's a perfectly weighted shot, but even so, Ford has the angle to pot a red to the right corner. He misses, and that could prove costly

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 2-2 Noppon Saengkham

Higgins 3-3 Ford (1-99)

He doesn't, quite, reach three figures, falling agonisingly short by missing the green with the rest. Even so, that was another excellent break from Tom. Three frames each. Three frames to go. Who knows where this one is going

Higgins 3-2 Ford (1-78*)

And Ford duly sinks that red, before adding the black for good measure. He's going to make it 3-3, but before then, can he get the second century of the match, following one in the opening frame from his opponent?

Higgins 3-2 Ford (1-62*)

That's not a good shot, though, leaving himself a very thin blue after over-hitting the cue ball. Thankfully, he recovers performance, and then cuts home a very good red for good measure. One more red needed to leave Higgins requiring snookers

Higgins 3-2 Ford (1-44*)

He's building this break nicely. Ford keeps picking off the loose reds, and his good work sees him get the blue back on its spot, which is more than helpful.

Higgins 3-2 Ford (1-16*)

What a shot that is, under pressure, from Ford. Higgins plays another safety that leaves a sniff of a long red to the green pocket. That red is fired home, while the cue ball is held for the black. This is a mega opportunity

Higgins 3-2 Ford (1-0)

Both players miss pots at the start of the sixth frame, including a huge slice of fortune from Higgins when a kiss leaves ford snookered. Eventually, the Scot pots one, but the cue ball clattering into the reds, he'll have to settle for just the one point from this visit as he plays safe off the black, putting the white tight on the top cushion

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 1-2 Noppon Saengkham

Higgins 3-2 Ford (0-82)

56 the end contribution from Ford, before he misses a very delicate cut back into the left corner. It's immaterial though. Tom closes the gap to one frame

Higgins 3-1 Ford (0-61*)

The winning line for this frame quickly comes into view for Ford. He's playing quick, aggressive snooker, and it's certainly paying off. His break reached 35 with a red that is enough to ensure Higgins requires snooker. The pink that follows means the Scot won't be coming back to the table

Higgins 3-1 Ford (0-38*)

Ford underhits his safety, leaving a long red for Higgins to the right corner. However, the Scot can't convert, and, he in turn leaves one for Ford. Is the World No.16 beginning to get going? It certainly looks that way after a terrific plant, which also opens up the black

Higgins 3-1 Ford (0-26)

Potting the pink does mean it's not tied up at the back of the pack, so the cue ball is having to do a lot of work. At some point, you feel he'll have to go into those reds, purely because it will bring the highest value colours into play. However, he resists the temptation and eventually runs out of position after hitting the black, which goes into the pack. End of break

Higgins 3-1 Ford (0-13*)

Higgins plays a pretty awful containing safety, leaving the cue ball half a foot off the cushion and with a red to pot. There's enough of an angle on it for Ford, who has to play up for the pink as the black is tied up. The table otherwise looks pretty nice for him though, with a few reds having come away from the pack. This is the kind of chance he probaly has to take

Off we go again

After the mid-session interval, we are back underway. Five more frames to play. Higgins needs to win two of them to take the match

In case you missed it

Here's what happened earlier on, as defending champion Gary Wilson and three-time ranking event runner-up Zhou Yuelong both progressed to the semi-finals.

O'Sullivan dismisses criticism over Scottish Open withdrawal

Ronnie O'Sullivan is part of the Eurosport coverage tonight. He's been speaking about controversially pulling out of this week's tournament, and insists he "did not leave it to the last minute."

A brief pause...

Those four frames have raced by, barely an hour since we got underway. On the other table, Noppon Saengkham has turned things around with breaks of 93 and 100 to lead 2-1

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 1-2 Noppon Saengkham

Higgins 3-1 Ford (25-102)

And indeed Ford does pull a frame back going into the mid-session interval. A break of 58 as he clears up the rest of the balls, bar the black. He needed that

Higgins 3-0 Ford (25-58*)

Ford has to put the frame to bed now. He's got that big lead, and he loses this one, then he's got a mountain to climb. Thankfully, from his point of view, John has left him an opening red. After the blue, another red and holding for position on the black means he's closing in on making it 3-1

Higgins 3-0 Ford (25-44)

The positional play from Higgins tonight has been nearly faultless. He plays an excellent shot to bring the cue ball back up to the business end of the table, having taken a green and brown with his first two reds. He's now on the black, and then a lovely little nudge into the pack keeps him going. However, the break falls down at 25 when he misses a red to the right corner by a long, long way

Higgins 3-0 Ford (*4-44)

However, he's soon returning to his chair shaking his head after leaving himself an unwanted angle on a red and missing it. Even worse, he's left two pots for Higgins, who cuts into the left corner and is on the march

Higgins 3-0 Ford (0-44*)

It won't be a maximum, as the fourth red is a toughie to the right middle and he has to go up for the blue. He's soon back around the black spot though, and the pack, after his positive stroke-play, means this is a very good opportunity to win the frame in one visit

Higgins 3-0 Ford (0-24*)

Finally, from Ford's point of view, Higgins misses a long opening red. Even better, Tom strides to the table and strokes home a really tough pot to the right corner. He holds for the black, splits the pack a couple of times and is sitting pretty with three reds and three blacks

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 1-1 Noppon Saengkham

Higgins 3-0 Ford (72-9)

It won't be a century. Higgins misses the next red to the left corner. Even so, Ford stays in his chair and has it all to do. His opponent is just two frames from the semi-finals

Higgins 2-0 Ford (*72-9)

Higgins breezes past frame ball as he pots a eighth red and eight black for this break. Again, all eyes are on the century now. This has been superb.

Higgins 2-0 Ford (*40-9)

And he's managed to do that now. He plays on a red that gives him the black to the right corner, off which he clears the path to the other side of the table by tidying away a red. The way he's playing, and the way the balls are spread, he should win the frame from this visit.

Higgins 2-0 Ford (*16-9)

A good safety shot apiece, before Ford plays a poor one that leaves a red to the right corner. Higgins has a lot of work to do with the cue ball though, because the black doesn't go to the left corner and the blue is off its spot. He puts an incredible amount of top spin on the cue ball to take it back up for the yellow. Good chance, now, although only once he can open things up for those higher value colours

Higgins 2-0 Ford (8-9)

The red that's been left is far from a gimme. It's near the top cushion, but Higgins drills it home. He now needs to go into the pack off the black, and the cue ball gets stuck in them somewhat. He attempts a very tough cut back into the right middle and misses by some distance

Higgins 2-0 Ford (0-9)

Ford has his first point on the board now though! A red drifts to the right hand side of the table from the Higgins break off, and Tom slots it home. That was a really composed pot. He adds the black, and then wants an angle on the blue to run into the pack, but runs too far. Plan B is the brown, which he misses - and he's left a red on too

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 1-0 Noppon Saenghkam

Higgins 2-0 Ford (108-0)

Job done, for Higgins. A break of 41 before missing the green. He's raced into a 2-0 lead. Ford still hasn't potted a ball.

Higgins 1-0 Ford (*83-0)

The good news for Higgins is that he leaves Ford snookered. Tom goes around the angles to hit the reds, but he leaves one on into the middle. That's frame well and truly over now, especially after the black is added.

Higgins 1-0 Ford (67-0)

More than a slight issue for Higgins as he runs too straight on a black, meaning he has to screw back for the tough red tight on the left cushion, as opposed to being about to find position around the pack. This red is key though. Extended rest needed, not easy, but down it goes. Ford can only tie now. Two snookers needed if he pots the black, but it rattles the jaws. We're still live.

Higgins 1-0 Ford (*58-0)

A lovely nudge into the pack, gently done, opens the reds up further for the Wizard of Wishaw, who quickly closes in on the winning line in this frame. He's got reds to both pockets and the black is free. Could another century be on the way?

Higgins 1-0 Ford (*26-0)

Ford has his first attempt at a pot of the evening, but he narrowly misses. A few shots later, Higgins has a clipped effort to the left corner and pots that, while his next shot on the green is even better, swinging the cue ball back up to the business end of the table. He has a red to the left corner, screws back for the black and now looks well set once more

Higgins 1-0 Ford (6-0)

Remember, it's best of nine for the quarter-finals, so the first to five wins. Ford would love a response after that opening frame, where he just didn't get a look in. He breaks off this frame, and leaves Higgins snookered on all the reds, bar one. You can guess what happens next, can't you? A long pot to the left middle, sent into the heart of the pocket, and screwing back for the blue, which he also pots. However, the cue ball nearly goes in to the right corner, so he has to play safe

Around the tables

Sanderson Lam 0-0 Noppon Saenghkam

Higgins 1-0 Ford (132-0)

Century completed. A top opening frame from Higgins. A total clearance, with some aggressive and clinical play. He looks in a good way.

Higgins 0-0 Ford (*89-0)

Higgins converts a further red to make doubly sure that Ford won't be coming back to the table. Next on his mind is that century. He's got a tough shot on here though, as, having potted a red, he screws back and cannons into two reds. The recovery pot is magnificent. Taking the blue into the left middle and bringing the cue ball up and down through baulk

Higgins 0-0 Ford (*68-0)

Another split on the pack brings further reds into play. Higgins is cueing superbly here. His highest break of his week is 82, surprisingly. He looks in good shape to pass that here, although the black is now pretty much out of play. Another pink though means Ford requires snookers

Higgins 0-0 Ford (*47-0)

John runs a little out of position with the cue ball. He wanted to hold for the pink, but instead is going to have to take the blue and go in and out of baulk with the white. He does that perfectly, disturbing the pack in doing so and earning a red to the left middle. The next task for him, in a few shots soon, will be to open up the black in to both corners

Higgins 0-0 Ford (*19-0)

What a wonderful way for Higgins to start. He terrific long red to the left corner. That one carried plenty of risk. He'd have been leaving any number of pots if he missed it. Instead, it went into the heart of the pocket and he managed to screw back for the blue. The way the pack has spread is very handy for him. This could be a one-visit job

Here. We. Go!

The boys are on the baize. John Higgins breaks off. We're up and running!

Both matches getting underway together

Unlike the afternoon session, it's not a staggered start for this session. Noppon Saengkham takes on Sanderson Lam on table two, with that one also just about to start.

Impressive week for Ford

Ford on the other hand has beaten Liam Highfield, Ding Junhui and Martin O'Donnell en route to the last eight. He's aiming to move one step closer to a fourth ranking event final, the most recent of which came in the International Champonship last month

How they got here

John Higgins would be the first to admit he's been far from his best in front of his home crowd this week. Even so, he's through to the last eight after a crazy fluke against Lyu Haotian. He says that slice of luck is a massive part behind him getting this far.

So far today

In case you missed it, we've had two matches of VERY differing lengths today. Defending champion Gary Wilson eased to a 5-0 victory over Chris Wakelin thanks to a very impressive display.

That came on the back of a nine-frame thriller, when former world champion Stuart Bingham was beaten 5-4 by Zhou Yuelong. Here's our round-up of the action from this afternoon.

Good evening!

Well, that didn't feel like long, did it? Welcome back to our coverage of the Scottish Open! We've got the final two quarter-final matches this evening, with John Higgins vs Tom Ford our focus point. It all gets underway at 6.45.

MORE TO COME LATER!

That's it for now, but there's more to come later on. John Higgins and Tom Ford as well as Sanderson Lam and Noppon Saengkham are ready for the second set of quarter-finals, coming up at 7pm.

WILSON 5-0 WAKELIN

The title defence is on for Gary Wilson. There's been nothing to fault him here as he left Chris Wakelin without a chance, winning five out of five frames to progress to the semi-finals. An exhibition in precision and calm today.

WILSON 4-0 WAKELIN (82-47)

Total clearance and an 82 break for Gary who bags his fifth frame and spot in the semi-final.

WILSON 4-0 WAKELIN (64-47)

Frame ball for Gary now.

WILSON 4-0 WAKELIN (51-47)

Magnificent placement again from Gary as he takes the lead in this frame.

WILSON 4-0 WAKELIN (0-47)

Much better from Chris now, but there's a big miss and he leaves Gary an opening.

WILSON 4-0 WAKELIN (0-1)

Very quick opening by the standards of this match so far and it's Chris at the table.

WILSON 4-0 WAKELIN

Gary has been stone-cold so far, playing with outstanding precision and calm. Of course, there's a whole other half still to come, but at this points it's hard to see a way back in for Chris when his opponent looks so confident.

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN (68-17)

Error from Chris and that's it for this frame.

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN (68-1)

Chris finally with the chance for some play now after finding a way out of the safety duel. He needs three sets of foul points though to turn this frame around)

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN (68-0)

68 and the frame ball, but there's nothing left on the table, so Gary leaves with a safety.

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN (41-0)

Gary is playing an absolute exhibition in his frame with all of his hits spot-on. The only reason his points aren't any higher is the lack of blacks and pinks, it's been mainly blue so far for him.

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN (1-0)

Straight into the centre pocket and it's the opening for Gary.

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN (0-0)

No opening so far, but Chris snookers Gary. He just about finds a way out, hitting the bank three times, and doesn't even leave an opening in the process.

WILSON 3-0 WAKELIN

There have been some chances for Chris in the first two frames, but it's been all Gary in the third. The title defender is looking sublime so far.

WILSON 2-0 WAKELIN (118-0)

Another great break from Gary who takes home the frame and indeed gets the century - his third of this Scottish Open.

WILSON 2-0 WAKELIN (61-0)

Frame ball for Gary now. It doesn't look like there's a chance to take this away from him. Instead, the century is on offer for him depending on what he can do with the last red that's currently lying against the bottom bank.

WILSON 2-0 WAKELIN (36-0)

Gary is playing with an astonishing level of calm here. At this point, he looks well in control with both his scoring and his placement.

WILSON 2-0 WAKELIN (1-0)

Both players are really struggling with finding opening today, but it's again Gary who finally sinks one.

WILSON 2-0 WAKELIN

Very solid performance from Gary so far who is looking cool, calm, and collected. The missed brown from Chris was the turning point here and one he might live to regret as the momentum is firmly on Gary's side now.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (97-31)

After his brilliant shot on the red, Gary brings the frame home with a 96 clearance.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (55-31)

Exceptionally done by Gary who hits the top red at the bank light, promotes it onto the other, and sinks it in the bottom right-hand corner.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (34-31)

Gary now takes the lead in this frame. There's two reds nestled against the right bank though, so this is far from decided and the players are in for some bother.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (2-31)

Chris very good at grabbing chances when he gets them now. He misses on brown though and leaves Gary an opening.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (1-1)

Loads of misses, but Chris finally finds an opening in the middle pocket. Not the easiest situation for him now, but he has options.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (1-0)

Slight deflection but still a nice opening shot from Gary, He has nowhere to go from here though.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN (0-0)

Very cagey here with the reds in a bulk. Gary came closest to an openingso far but missed the long ball.

WILSON 1-0 WAKELIN

Advantage Gary after one end, but there's plenty still to come. Remember, it's a best of nine format in the quarter-finals.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (86-30)

There's the decision and Gary takes the frame.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (73-30)

Safeties galore and a miss for Gary until he finds an opening. This is his frame now.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (72-30)

Foul points now, but there in Gary's favour as Chris sinks the cue ball. He now needs two snooker to stay within a chance of winning this frame.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (68-30)

And there's the snooker but Gary manages and no foul points are handed out. We're back to safeties.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (68-24)

Chris is searching for the snooker on Gary here. Looks like he intends to do it with the last remaining red.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (68-1)

Safeties are being traded and Gary blinks first, leaving Chris a long ball for an opening.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (68-0)

Frame ball for Gary as he scores black. However, the miss follows and it's not it for this frame just yet.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (58-0)

Offensive frame so far from Gary, but here's a slight placement error. He gets the rest out and scores the red anyway.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (31-0)

Very neat start from Gary so far. Nothing too spectacular, but he plays the simple shots well which can only help his recently somewhat impaired self-confidence.

WILSON 0-0 WAKELIN (8-0)

Gary gets the opening and follows it up with a black.

COMING UP

The next quarter-final is just around the corner as Gary Wilson and Chris Wakelin line up.

ZHOU 5-4 BINGHAM

What a quarter-final! After an excellent start, things shifted very much in Zhou Yuelong's favour and it looked his for the taking. However, don't ever count out the well-experienced Stuart Bingham who found an extra gear and equalised again after being three frames down. Still, Yuelong kept his cool in the decider and booked a spot in the Scottish Open semi-finals.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (77-0)

That's the frame and that's the match for Yuelong!

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (71-0)

Opening for Yuelong and this time he has further options.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (71-0)

Celebratory fist from Yuelong who scores a red, even though there's nowhere much to go from there.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (70-0)

There's the frame ball for Yuelong. He doesn't have anywhere to go from there though and plays the safety.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (52-0)

Yuelong playing some excellent snooker now. For a player who has chronically struggled in pressure situation he is looking remarkably unfazed at the moment. Still, his placement is a bit off and he's probably making things tougher for himself than he needs to.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (36-0)

The path to black is near-enough blocked but Yuelong goes for the shot anyway and pulls it off. Stuart looking somewhat resigned at the sidelines now.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (28-0)

So far, Yuelong can make quite a bit of it and he looks in a decent position to keep going.

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM (1-0)

Opening for Yuelong. What can he make of it?

ZHOU 4-4 BINGHAM

We're going into a decider! It looked Yuelong's for the taking, but Stuart has looked a different player since going 4-1 down and the momentum is with him. One frame to break and it'll be a tense one!

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (8-72)

Miss for Stuart, but it doesn't matter as the frame is his.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (8-65)

Frame ball for Stuart!

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (8-41)

Safeties all around, but Stuart pulls off an incredible long ball and finds an opening.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (8-40)

There's nothing left on the table for Stuart for now, but he does make a neat safety.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (8-33)

Stuart now up to 90 per cent score success while Yuelong has dropped to 93. The results reflect the stats.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (8-2)

Miss from Yuelong as the black stops just short of the bottom left-hand corner. He's looking far away from the form he had in the early frames.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (1-2)

Yuelong very reliable on the long balls today. He capitalises on a poor clearance from Stuart and gets the opening.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM (0-1)

Opening again for Stuart. However, this time he hits the black too thin in his successive shot and invites Yuelong back to the table. Nothing useable for him though and we're back to safeties.

ZHOU 4-3 BINGHAM

Could he do it? We've seen some great comebacks so far at the Scottish Open and Stuart is threatening another one. Frame 8 coming up!

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM (1-71)

Jinxed it, there's the miss from Stuart as he tries to score pink. Nevertheless, the frame is his.

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM (1-65)

Frame ball for Stuart now and he looks in a good place to keep scoring.

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM (1-44)

No opening materialises here and we're back to a safety duel. Yuelong is first to blink though and his miss leaves Stuart a chance.

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM (0-44)

Miss from Stuart now. He gets the rest out for a long-distance shot, but the red dances around the bottom left-hand pocket without falling. Yuelong back at the table - he's been looking increasingly resigned at the sidelines.

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM (0-30)

Stuart keeps scoring, but his cue ball placement isn't quite perfect. Still, he keeps saving himself and finding a way out of every situation for now.

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM (0-1)

Opening for Stuart. Last time that happened there was no stopping him.

ZHOU 4-2 BINGHAM

Game on? It looked Yuelong's for the taking with a struggling and error-prone Stuart. However, there was no struggling in that last frame. Still, two frames separate them and the advantage is with Yuelong.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM (0-142)

The frame goes to Stuart with a 142. He's looked immaculate here.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM (0-100)

Stuart completes the century - his fifth at this Scottish Open.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM (0-70)

There's the frame ball for Stuart. He's on course for a century here.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM (0-54)

The split so close to being Stuart's downfall again. It's a tricky shot on the red and it bounces on the right middle pocket a couple of times but does find its way in.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM (0-39)

Stuart is on a run now and racking up the points. Nothing much spectacular, but he is looking confident and makes his shots well.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM (0-1)

Neat opening for Stuart! Let's see what he can make of it.

ZHOU 4-1 BINGHAM

Looking at the stats ahead of the sixth frame, they are a fair reflection of the standings: it's 95 per cent score success for Yuelong versus 85 per cent for Stuart. Yuelong's safeties have been more effective too.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (97-21)

There was no stopping Yuelong who makes a very strong break and takes the frame. One hand on the semi-finals now!

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (58-21)

Frustration for Stuart whose missed blue way back when allowed Yuelong his current run. He now looks in a position to take the frame home. The next red is the frame ball!

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (22-21)

Yuelong takes the lead in this frame. Nothing much spectacular from him, but he plays the simple shots well which hasn't always been the case in this match.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (1-21)

There is an opening for Yuelong and he makes it count.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (0-21)

Good run for Stuart, but now the split doesn't work for him with the black blocking his path. Still, he finds a combination to somehow still score and even opens up another red. Unfortunately, he follows it up with an error.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (0-4)

Opener for Stuart this time and he looks in a fairly good place to keep going.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (0-0)

We go again! With the reds bunched up and the cue ball nestled against them, Stuart and Yuelong decide to re-rack and go back to zero.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM (6-0)

Beautiul opener from Yuelong, but a mistake follows swiftly. Stuart can't capitalise though.

WILSON V WAKELIN DELAYED

If you're looking for updates from the other quarter-final between Gary Wilson and Chris Wakelin, you'll have to wait a bit longer as there is a delay to that match until our feature game here is finishes.

ZHOU 3-1 BINGHAM

Reflecting on the match so far, things started off really well with two great frames and two players that were looking rock-solid. Frame 3 couldn't quite live up to that but was far from boring with a tense safety duel. However, both Yuelong and Stuart looked seriously out of sorts in Frame 4. Here's hoping they can find some of the form they started the match with when they come back out for the next frame!

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (92-30)

No mistake from here: it's a 25 clearance from Yuelong who brings the frame home.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (67-30)

Loads of head shaking here from Stuart who allows Yuelong back on the table with another error.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (61-28)

Error playing the safety from Stuart and Yuelong is back on the table.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (61-28)

Stuart needs at least one snooker here and he gets it, placing the cue ball behind the yellow and forcing the error. The foul points go his way.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (53-25)

Nicely done by Yuelong who scores black and places the red nicely for the next one. He's looking more like the form he showed in the first frames again now.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (40-24)

Chance for Stuart who stays at the table for a wee while, but he doesn't play a safety well and invites Yuelong right back in.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (40-13)

Brilliantly done by Stuart who uses the pink to score the red. There's nowhere to go from here though.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (40-12)

Error from Yuelong, Stuart capitalises. However, he can't make much out of it as he immediately plays his shot too thin and misses.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (40-11)

Play ball in the pocket for Stuart and four foul points. It might not be the worst outcome for Stuart though since an easy opening for Yuelong was very much on the cards had his shot ended differently.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (36-11)

After an excellent first three frames, errors are now sneaking in for both players. There's quite a few misses here.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (20-11)

Very tricky shot for Stuart who gets out the rest to try make things work. He misses and, crucially leaves an opener for Yuelong.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (20-5)

Stuart gets on the board and finds a way to progress from there, sinking the green in the top right-hand corner.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (20-0)

Another error from Yuelong. The red bounces several times at the bottom right-hand corner but just doesn't want to go in. Stuart can't find a way to score in response now and we're back in safety territory.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (1-0)

Error from Yuelong (only his second of the day!) and Stuart is invited back to the table. He too misses though with what looks like a lack of concentration after being called into action unexpectedly.

ZHOU 2-1 BINGHAM (1-0)

Yuelong is first on the board with a stunning long ball to hit the red into the bottom right-hand corner.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (89-33)

Ridding out the safety duel has worked for Yuelong who is bringing the frame home with a 35 clearance.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (54-33)

It's a question of who blinks first and it's Stuart who gives Yuelong an opening. The Chinese player makes an excellent shot, playing the ball long, hitting the red thin, and manoeuvring it into the top left-hand corner.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (53-33)

Stuart has been at the table for more than two minutes now thinking about what to do. Safeties have been traded and there seems to be no way out at the moment.It's a question of who blinks first now.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (53-33)

The players are trading safeties now with no one finding a breakthrough. The highlight so far has been Stuart somehow missing three reds successively by the tiniest margins and having to try that shot again.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (53-33)

Too much force from Stuart and the ball runs too far after the hit. He makes a decent safety and Yuelong returns to the table. Bit of a waste there from Stuart - there would have been way more than 33 points available without that error.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (49-27)

Beautiful triple combo from Stuart, but a red blocks his path to the blue as a result. Not to worry though, he makes the shot anyway and stays at the table.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (49-1)

There it is for Yuelong who can't find another red to score and plays a safety instead. He was looking at a quartet-combination but decided against it. Stuart sees something his opponent didn't and makes a double-combination to stay at the table.

ZHOU 1-1 BINGHAM (20-0)

Very cagey start to the third frame, but Yuelong looks on a run now after a long hit. He is in a good place to repeatedly score black now and build up an advantage, but the reds are pretty bunched up just now which could get him in some bother.

THE MATCH SO FAR

It's been an excellent game so far with Yuelong winning the first game with a century before Stuart fought back with an excellent frame himself to make it 1-1. It's all to play for - remember, we're now in the quarter-finals, so games take a best of nine format.

AROUND THE TABLES

Our feature match Stuart Bingham versus Zhou Yuelong is the only action at the Meadowbanks Sports Centre at the moment. Gary Wilson versus Chris Wakelin gets underway at 2pm.

AFTERNOON ALL!

Welcome back to the Meadowbanks Sports Centre, Edinburgh and the Scottish Open where it's quarter-finals time. Our featured game this afternoon is Stuart Bingham versus Zhou Yuelong.

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Scottish Open