Scottish Open 2024: Wu Yize edges past Chris Wakelin in decider, Xiao Guodong sends Luca Brecel out in bizarre clash
Updated 13/12/2024 at 18:46 GMT
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Wu Yize edged past Chris Wakelin by claiming a final-frame decider at Meadowbank Sports Centre, booking his place in the Scottish Open semi-finals, where he will face Xiao Guodong - who sent Luca Brecel out of the Edinburgh showcase with 5-1 victory. The evening session will see Tom Ford face Lei Peifan and Noppon Saengkham go up against Mark Allen.
Superb long red from Wakelin sets him on course for century - 'What a terrific shot'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wu Yize edged past Chris Wakelin courtesy of a deciding frame victory on Friday to claim a place in the Scottish Open semi-final.
Wakelin took a 2-0 lead with a century in the first frame, and 52 in the second, only for Wu to level the scores with back-to-back breaks of 82 and 72.
Following the interval, Wakelin edged back in front, only for Wu to take the following two frames. Wakelin then forced a decider but couldn't capitalise, with Wu claiming a run of 66 to secure his place in the last four.
Wakelin will face Xiao Guodong, who go toe to toe later this afternoon.
Wakelin took a 1-0 lead in the quarter-final with an excellent 107 clearance.
He opened his account with a sizzling long red from right to left, that ultimately paved the way for a century.
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Despite the second frame seeing Wu land a brilliant red from the baulk down the left cushion to the far corner, the world No. 27 ultimately handed the initiative to Wakelin by missing a pink up to middle left.
The Englishman went on to gobble up the majority of what remained of the pack, before burying a yellow, green and brown to take a 2-0 lead with a 51 break.
But Wu halved the deficit convincingly in the third frame with a break of 82, after Wakelin handed the initiative to his opponent with a failed snooker attempt behind the green.
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'Wonderful talent' Wu edges 'superb spectacle' to claim semi-final spot
Video credit: TNT Sports
The 21-year-old took full advantage. Though his attempt at a century came up short when he missed a red up to middle left, he took the all-important point.
Wu then leveled the scores heading into the interval. An impressive run saw him claim a break of 72 before he potted the cue ball and handed four points to Wakelin. However, the Briton conceded to take the scores to 2-2.
After the break, Wakelin totted up his third half century of the match, courtesy of a superb brown up to the yellow pocket from near to the jaw of the middle-right pocket.
However, a cannon off a pot on the black to the right corner gave Wu another look at the table. A poor safety from the Chinese player gave Wakelin another opportunity, which he made count with a clinical cut on a long red to the left corner, followed by a brown and another red to the same bag.
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Wakelin.
Image credit: Getty Images
But Wu soon brought the scores back to 3-3 with a break of 73. Wakelin failed to jump on a miscue from his opponent, with the Chinese ace subsequently setting sail for frame ball. A run of 17 saw Wu tie the encounter.
And soon Wu was in the lead, after a run of 63 put him just one frame off the semi-finals.
Wakelin, however, forced a decider, claiming a century break. Wu narrowly missed a red from the pack up to the middle-left pocket, allowing for Wakelin to motor towards the frame ball with a magnificent 103 clearance.
Wu handed the initiative to Wakelin in the deciding frame, only for the Briton to miss a red and give his opponent another opening. Wu turned the advantage into a victory lap, as a run of 66 saw him claim a place in the semi-final.
Xiao sends Brecel out
Luca Brecel was sent crashing out of the Scottish Open at the quarter-final stage by Xiao Guodong, after the Chinese star secured 5-1 victory to set up a clash against his compatriot.
A resurgent Brecel came out of the blocks swinging, putting his renowned potting nous on display, accumulating a run of 47.
And a slack Xiao safety set the Belgian back among the balls, where he wowed the Edinburgh faithful with a stylish three-ball plant, before slamming home the following blue but effectively snookering himself as a result of an unfortunate kiss off yellow.
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Brecel turns on the style with three-ball plant before 'unlucky' blue leaves him in a snooker
Video credit: TNT Sports
While Brecel could not scramble together another prolonged visit, his handy lead proved enough to claim the go-ahead frame.
Xiao was far from his free-flowing best in the opening exchanges, and when presented with an opportunity to build a big break in the second frame, he could only forge a run of 19.
Brecel responded with a break of 29, before reverting to safety, and Xiao emerged well from the stand-off after a smart safety forced his counterpart into a foul.
The Chinese star began to find his feet, posting the first half-century break of the match - clearing until the pink to level the affair.
The match soon descended into chaos with a marathon, 51-minute-long third frame - described as "completely cursed" by Eurosport commentator Neal Foulds.
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'Strange old table' - Balls take 'unusual configuration' as reds cluster to bottom right
Video credit: TNT Sports
A pack of 14 reds accumulated towards the bottom right corner, as the pair traded tactical blows looking to somehow find an opening.
After a brutal safety exchange which saw Brecel go 38 minutes without potting, Xiao went 27-0 up, before Brecel responded with a run of 38 - the Belgian gradually pulling reds out of the congested pack before breaking down as he lost control on the cue ball and was trapped behind a trio of reds.
Xiao went back ahead with a 13-point lead, while Brecel took the final red and subsequent yellow. The Bullet also had a golden chance to take the brown after Xiao left it gilt-edged, hanging over the middle left.
But Brecel spurned it, allowing Xiao to go 2-1 ahead, where he continued to establish dominance en-route to the semi-final spot.
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'Can't believe it' - Brecel fails to capitalise on Xiao howler
Video credit: TNT Sports
All scrappiness evaporated from the arena in Edinburgh when the world No. 18 dispatched the fourth frame with ease - firing home a classy century clearance to head into the interval.
And despite little potting joy in the marathon encounter, Brecel opted to leave his cue propped up beside the arena hoardings - a move which Eurosport commentator Alan McManus felt was "a statement" towards his discontent at the opening proceedings.
Despite the odd exceptional pot from Brecel, Xiao had the measure of the former world champion and went within a frame of victory when another accomplished break - this time putting together 81 - continued to build upon the Belgian's frustrations.
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McManus, White discuss Brecel leaving cue in arena at interval - 'Almost a statement to all of us'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Brecel made a battle of the sixth frame, but ultimately fell short of kick-starting his campaign as Xiao completed the 5-1 victory, though making hard work for himself as he failed to find position on the decisive brown with the entire table to aim at.
Brecel was left needing two snookers, and continued to work away with his hopes of staying in the tournament becoming increasingly slim - but Xiao eventually claimed victory as the Belgian conceded to end a marathon afternoon session.
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