Thai star Noppon Saengkham stands between Englishman Gary Wilson and the successful defence of the BetVictor Scottish Open snooker title.
The 31-year-old from Samut Prakan ended John Higgins’ bid to claim the title for the first time with a 6-3 victory in their semi-final at Meadowbank.
And progression to the final represents the best result in the career of the man nicknamed Moo.
Higgins (pictured) started well, winning the first frame 84-4 but his rival posted a break of 63 to takes the next 131-0 and level at 1-1.
The man nicknamed the Wishaw Wizard claimed a break of 130 to win the third 131-0 and edge ahead 2-1 and he took the fourth with a break of 92 to lead 3-1 then the rot set in.
Higgins accumulated a break of 53 in the fifth but lost the frame 67-54 and the Thai player claimed the sixth with a 133 clearance to level at 3-3.
And Saengkham, ranked No 26 in the world, closed out the game with wins in the next three frames, 77-46, 121-0 thanks to a break of 120, and 83-35 with a break of 83.
So, Higgins, ranked No 12, and twice runner-up in the Scottish, will have to wait another year to to claim his home title while Wilson, ranked No 20, faces a man on a roll in the final which starts at 19.00.
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