Wu Yize Stages Stunning Comeback to Reach Scottish Open Final, Eyes Stephen Hendry Trophy Glory

Wu Yize showcased his resilience and talent to secure a thrilling 6-4 comeback victory over Xiao Guodong, earning a spot in the Scottish Open final in Edinburgh. Despite falling 4-2 behind, the 21-year-old Chinese star displayed remarkable composure to turn the match around and keep his hopes alive of claiming the prestigious Stephen Hendry Trophy.

The match started with a protracted safety battle in the opening frame, which Xiao claimed after capitalizing on Wu’s early errors. Wu’s struggles continued in the second frame, as Xiao doubled his lead. A missed opportunity in the third frame allowed Wu to settle his nerves and get on the board. The tide began to shift as Wu leveled the match at the interval, benefiting from Xiao’s questionable safety shot in the fourth frame.

After the break, Xiao briefly regained the lead with an impressive break of 76. However, he narrowly escaped disaster in the sixth frame when Wu missed a critical pink, allowing Xiao to edge ahead 4-2. Facing a daunting deficit, Wu demonstrated his quality with a stunning 67-point clearance in the seventh frame, despite reds being positioned awkwardly. A safety error from Xiao in the eighth frame opened the door for Wu to deliver a composed 57-point break, tying the match at 4-4.

With momentum on his side, Wu delivered a mesmerizing single-visit break of 115 in the ninth frame, taking the lead for the first time. Xiao, under immense pressure, faltered in the decisive frame, missing a straightforward red. Wu capitalized, sealing the match with a break of 54 to complete his comeback.

Wu now awaits the winner of Mark Allen and Lei Peifan’s semi-final clash. This will mark the second final appearance of his career, following his impressive showing at the English Open earlier in the season.