The Masters - Live Stream

18+ | Geo restrictions may apply | Gamble Responsibly
Watch Live Here

Lei Peifan seals maiden ranking success at Scottish Open

Jonathan Davies in Scottish Open

Left arrow

Wu Yize v Lei Peifan live stream | Scottish Open 2024 Final preview

Lei was the last man standing in Edinburgh

Lei Peifan prevailed in an all-Chinese battle with Wu Yize 9-5 to claim his first career ranking title at the Scottish Open.

The world number 84 was the last man standing at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh on Sunday, as became the lowest-ranked winner of a ranking event in 31 years.

Lei, who only returned to the tour for his second spell this season, landed the top prize of £100,000 and the Stephen Hendry trophy, concluding a memorable week in which he also defeated Hossein Vafaei, Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, Tom Ford and Mark Allen.

The 21-year-old became the 78th different ranking tournament winner in snooker history, and the eighth from China, while climbing to 43rd in the WST rankings.

“I got very, very lucky,” he told Eurosport via Chinese journalist Tai Chengzhe. “The goal I set out earlier this week was to get into the last 16, because my previous best finish was a last 16.

“Wu Yize is bound to get a title in the future and, this week, all the effort I’ve been putting in is all totally worth it.

“The last year has been really difficult for me. I just got back on tour this year, so it means a lot.”

The final ranking event final of 2024 was also the first to be contested between two players born in the 21st century.

Both were fresh from impressive semi-final comebacks. Wu reeled off four successive frames from 4-2 down against compatriot Xiao Guodong, while surprise package Lei overturned a 5-2 deficit to stun world number five Allen 6-5.

Despite his late-night finish, the world number 84 settled the quicker of the two 21-year-olds, with breaks of 68 and 71 establishing a 4-0 lead.

Wu had also been slow out of the blocks in his English Open final showdown with Neil Robertson in September, falling 7-1 behind before eventually losing out 10-8.

The world number 27 stopped the rot with a run of 69, while further contributions of 40 and 33 cut the gap to 4-2.

Lei, who was appearing in Edinburgh having progressed through two qualifying rounds in Sheffield, ensured a lead heading into the evening session with 51, though Wu made 65 to remain within touching distance at two frames adrift.

He halved that deficit in the opening frame of the evening with a run of 43 along the way, but his opponent responded with 70, before taking the next two on the blue and pink to stand within one of victory.

Wu took the 13th frame after the mid-session interval to keep his faint hopes alive, but Lei sealed the deal with 62.

“I got really lucky to make it this far this week,” Wu said via Chengzhe. “I should have lost in the quarter-finals. Lei did really well to become champion.”