Scottish Open: Zhou Yuelong fails to learn lesson as premature 'fist pump' haunts him in brutal semi-final loss
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ByEurosport
Updated 17/12/2023 at 11:05 GMT
Zhou Yuelong has been stung for a second time by a premature celebration in suffering defeat at a major event. The world No. 21 celebrated victory over Gary Wilson in the final frame of a taut Scottish Open semi-final only for his opponent to get the snookers he needed before potting a respotted black. Zhou was also berated by Ali Carter for "the old fist pump" at the 2019 World Championship.
‘He will be gutted’ - O’Sullivan reflects on Zhou's agonising loss to Wilson
Ronnie O’Sullivan advised Zhou Yuelong not to celebrate a win until a match is finished during a brutal 6-5 Scottish Open semi-final defeat to Gary Wilson in Edinburgh, but he was already told by Ali Carter to ditch the premature "fist pump" at the World Championship four years ago.
Zhou had led defending champion Wilson 5-3 on Saturday only for the 2019 World Championship semi-finalist Wilson to force the decider with breaks of 122 and 54, but the former Northern Ireland Open finalist looked to have secured his final spot with a composed closing break of 69.
After potting the green following a lengthy safety exchange in the decider to lead 72-41, Zhou even pumped his fist in celebration only for Wilson to incredibly get the two snookers he needed to force a respotted black.
"That fist pump could have been a little early," said 1986 world champion Joe Johnson in the Eurosport commentary box.
A missed attempt at the black by Zhou from distance presented Wilson with the chance to win with a tricky black to right centre. Which he potted. And promptly celebrated with a fist pump of his own.
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‘What a finish’ - Wilson beats Zhou on a respotted black to reach Scottish Open final
“He will be gutted,” O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio. “It will be horrible to lose a match like that.
“Probably it’s a lesson for him to never, ever celebrate a win again until the guy shakes your hand.
“It is never a nice feeling. But I think he took it well, he shook Gary’s hand and seemed happy for Gary, so he is a good sportsman in that way.
“It is disappointing for him that he has had to lose in a semi-final in that way, but he keeps knocking on the door. It won’t be long before he wins his first ranking event.”
While Zhou must make sense of an agonising end to a brutal defeat to Wilson, he was in a similar boat in the last 16 of the World Championship in 2019 when he wheeled out the fist pump in moving 9-7 clear of two-time Crucible finalist Ali Carter, who promptly responded by mopping up the final six frames to reach the quarter-finals.
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Carter completes victory over Zhou Yuelong
“Of course, I noticed the fist pump. We all notice it, and believe me as a sportsman when someone gives it the fist you hate it," Carter told Eurosport.
“Don’t get me wrong, the competitiveness of it all is what we’re all after.
“When I won, I thought: ‘you can give it the fist pump at 9-7 up, I’ll give it the fist pump when I’ve turned you over at the end of the day'.
“He’s young, he inexperienced and maybe he’ll learn from that.
"I once did it when I was 12-9 up against Judd Trump. I thought I had potted match ball. Before I know it, he’s got three or four snookers and 20 minutes later, I’m thinking 'Jesus Christ, I’m sweating it'.
"But I ended up winning. I just thought: ‘never again’. When he’s shook your hand, and you’ve won the match, you can give it the old fist pump."
Wilson will bid for a second straight Scottish Open title against Noppon Saengkham in the best-of-17 frame final (1pm UK time on Eurosport and discovery+) on Sunday after the talented Thai player hit back from 3-1 behind to complete a 6-3 win over local favourite John Higgins in reaching his first ranking final with breaks of 133, 120 and 83.
Whatever happens, Wilson will be able to enjoy his festive period having booked his place in the prestigious World Grand Prix in Leicester next month involving the top 32 on the sport's one-year list.
Wilson leads Noppon 2-0 on the career head-to-heads, but this will be their first meeting in a decade after Wilson claimed a 5-4 win in the first round of the 2013 Shanghai Masters.
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