The 2024 Scottish Open has 4 runners left in rivalry for glory on the Meadowbank Sports activities Centre in Edinburgh.
Two extra victories are required with a purpose to land the £100,000 prime prize and the Stephen Hendry Trophy in what’s the third occasion out of 4 on the Dwelling Nations sequence.
The Scottish Open represents the final alternative of 2024 to win a rating piece of silverware.
Just one from the remaining quartet has already emerged with a title from the continuing marketing campaign, with the others bidding for a primary trophy of the time period.
Let’s check out each semi-final matches within the 2024 Scottish Open.
Lei Peifan vs Mark Allen
Mark Allen is the only surviving prime 16 member within the draw after the Northern Irishman produced a powerful show to beat Noppon Saengkham on Friday.
The Pistol fired in a hat-trick of century breaks for the second time this week as he sustained his improved degree of scoring in opposition to the Thai.
Allen, who stays on target to copy his Scottish Open success from 2018, will face qualifier Lei Peifan within the final 4.
The latter reached the penultimate spherical of a rating event for the primary time in his profession by ending Tom Ford’s ten-match unbeaten streak.
Shoot Out king Ford was in acquainted territory when he compelled a final-frame decider, however the younger Chinese language competitor edged a thriller on the concluding colors.
It was the third time this season that Lei had bought one over Ford, and it takes the 21 year-old via to the only desk setup in opposition to world quantity 5 Allen.
Along with his increased rating, higher expertise, and significantly with the shape he has proven on this occasion, Allen is clearly the favorite to progress to Sunday’s ultimate.
Nonetheless, Lei has already crushed the likes of Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, and Hossein Vafaei in his memorable run so shouldn’t be taken calmly.
Allen and Lei have by no means crossed paths on the principle tour earlier than.
Wu Yize vs Xiao Guodong
An all-Chinese language semi-final conflict is changing into increasingly more acquainted on the World Snooker Tour.
Certainly, that is the third time this season that three out of the 4 semi-finalists in a rating occasion have hailed from China.
The 2 earlier events – on the Wuhan Open and once more on the Worldwide Championship – each featured Xiao Guodong.
Right here the 35 year-old is once more as he mounts yet one more problem for honours in what is popping out to be a outstanding interval of kind.
Xiao, who ended up triumphing in Wuhan for his maiden rating success, thumped Luca Brecel 5-1 within the final eight.
Compatriot Wu Yize will likely be on the opposite aspect of the desk in Saturday afternoon’s opening semi-final conflict.
The 21 year-old, a finalist on the English Open the place he was narrowly crushed by Neil Robertson, fought again from behind to disclaim Chris Wakelin in a deciding body on Friday.
Wu, who’s making back-to-back semi-final appearances in a rating occasion, and Xiao have additionally by no means performed one another earlier than in a aggressive match.
Each semi-finals within the 2024 Scottish Open will likely be reside for European viewers on discovery+ and Eurosport.
2024 Scottish Open
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Saturday, December 14th
1pm UTC
Wu Yize vs Xiao Guodong
7pm UTC
Lei Peifan vs Mark Allen
Click on right here for the most recent outcomes
(snooker.org)
Featured photograph credit score: WST